Advice re hit and run

[spaximus]

A mate of mine was driving down the M5 junction 5 area when a landrover defender hit him down the offside very hard, damaging the whole side of the car. He then sped off without stopping.

He got the number and called the police who have told him as he was carrying on with his journey they would hand this over to Avon and Somerset. Was this right and how seriously will they look for the other driver?

He was pretty shook up when it happened so chasing him down was not an option, any advice appreciated

[anonymous-user]

Well should take much looking, check registered keep, go knock on the door.

[R2T2]

OP. I'd report it to plod, but check on Mid to see if it's insured and if it's taxed/MOT'd as well, they make take a little more notice. Take loads of photos with street view of the site and such, ready to give them if needed.

[AndyNetwork]

Something not quite right here - for a start a Land Rover Defender cannot speed off anywhere. Even if the victim had stopped, it would not have taken long to catch them up again, given they do about 80MPH flat out!

[Jakeztx]

AndyNetwork said:

Something not quite right here - for a start a Land Rover Defender cannot speed off anywhere. Even if the victim had stopped, it would not have taken long to catch them up again, given they do about 80MPH flat out!

Wouldn't fancy getting into a stand-off with one while on the motorway at 80mph with a driver who clearly doesn't care much for damaging his own vehicle.

[pinchmeimdreamin]

R2T2 said:

OP. I'd report it to plod, but check on Mid to see if it's insured and if it's taxed/MOT'd as well, they make take a little more notice. Take loads of photos with street view of the site and such, ready to give them if needed.

You missed the bit in the OP where he said he had reported it to the police then.

[sim72]

spaximus said:

He got the number and called the police who have told him as he was carrying on with his journey they would hand this over to Avon and Somerset.

I'm a little bemused by this, considering the Avon and Somerset police area is 60+ miles from Junction 5?

[spaximus]

sim72 said:

I'm a little bemused by this, considering the Avon and Somerset police area is 60+ miles from Junction 5?

That was a surprise to me as well, but that is what he was told, maybe they did not want the hassle. The insurance company have confirmed the vehicle exists and is insured and are working with the police.

[spaximus]

AndyNetwork said:

Something not quite right here - for a start a Land Rover Defender cannot speed off anywhere. Even if the victim had stopped, it would not have taken long to catch them up again, given they do about 80MPH flat out!

It is absolutely true what happened. To be honest he was quite shook up with the incident and not being a "powerfully built director" he did the right thing as no one knows what might have happened had he chased him down.

People react differently to events that others shrug off.

[pinchmeimdreamin]

spaximus said:

sim72 said:

I'm a little bemused by this, considering the Avon and Somerset police area is 60+ miles from Junction 5?

That was a surprise to me as well, but that is what he was told, maybe they did not want the hassle. The insurance company have confirmed the vehicle exists and is insured and are working with the police.

Did they actually say "hand it over" or could they possibly have said "pass it on"? in case he was spotted in their patch ?

[spaximus]

pinchmeimdreamin said:

Did they actually say "hand it over" or could they possibly have said "pass it on"? in case he was spotted in their patch ?

Apparently hand it over as that is where my mate lives. It is possible the Defender driver lives elsewhere so I would hope this does not affect the investigation