Tashkent Driver Hits Schoolboy, Flees Scene

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Authorities in Tashkent have identified a driver who struck a schoolboy and left the scene of a traffic accident, the city’s Department of Internal Affairs reported.

The incident occurred on 20 April on Keles Yuli Street in the Almazar district. The case came to public attention after a video of the event circulated on social media. The footage shows two schoolchildren crossing a roadway near a pedestrian crossing when one of them is hit by a passing vehicle.

According to law enforcement authorities, the driver of the Damas vehicle is a 19-year-old who had recently obtained a driving license.

In his statement, the driver said he noticed the children and sounded the horn. He claimed that one of them stopped, but he became distracted by traffic behind him and checked his mirrors. He also stated that a curtain partially obstructed his view, and at that moment the second child ran onto the road.

The driver said he attempted to brake and steer away, but was unable to avoid the collision, and the child was struck by the side of the vehicle. He added that he panicked after the incident and continued driving instead of stopping immediately.

He later stopped on the roadside and went to a nearby fuel station, where he composed himself. The driver then tried to return to the scene but found that the injured child had already been taken away by an ambulance. He stated that he followed the ambulance but lost sight of it before reporting to traffic police.

Administrative proceedings have been initiated against him under articles related to traffic violations causing minor harm and leaving the scene of an accident. Authorities noted that the final legal classification will depend on the severity of the child’s injuries, and the case may be reclassified as a criminal investigation if serious harm is confirmed.