A brave delivery driver who was killed trying to stop a ‘vanjacking’ clung on to the passenger door for half a mile when a thief jumped behind the wheel.
The courier, in his forties, was on his rounds delivering Amazon parcels on Tuesday evening when his grey transit van was stolen in Leeds, West Yorkshire.
He was delivering a package to a house in Alliance Street at about 6.45pm when he returned to see a man jumping into his vehicle.
He tried to stop the thief by getting into the van himself, but the suspect drove away at speed, dragging the poor driver for half a mile as he desperately hung out of the door.
The silver Ford Transit Cargo then smashed into two parked cars in Heights Drive, around half a mile from where the theft occurred.
As the brave courier lay dying in the street, the thief drove off, and abandoned the vehicle six miles away in Heights Drive.
Hundreds of people have sent their condolences to the driver’s family on Facebook, calling it ‘unfair, sad and heartbreaking.’ One said: ‘Nobody should have to encounter this while simply carrying out their job.’
The driver, who delivered Amazon parcels through a third party courier, was found seriously injured at the scene shortly before 7pm.
Officers attended and found the victim unconscious with kind members of the public trying to help him.
He was given emergency treatment by ambulance staff but was pronounced dead at the scene a short time later, with police now launching a murder inquiry.
Police later found the van around six miles away from the scene of the attack, in Highlands Walk, Belle Isle.
West Yorkshire Police said the driver’s family are ‘completely devastated’.
Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector James Entwistle said: ‘Our investigation remains at an early stage but, based on what we currently know, this appears to be a truly shocking incident where the victim has been killed while going about his business as a parcel delivery driver.
‘His family has been informed and they are completely devastated about what has happened. We are working to support them at what is a really difficult time and are doing everything we can to get them the answers they need.
‘We are carrying out extensive enquiries to establish the full circumstances and to identify the person whose incredibly dangerous actions have been responsible for causing his death.
‘We have spoken to a number of witnesses but are still very keen to hear from anyone who witnessed any part of this incident.
‘That appeal covers the circumstances of the van being stolen in Alliance Street at about 6.45pm; the journey it took along Heights Drive to where the victim was found; its movements as it fled the scene there; and its movements before being found abandoned in Highlands Walk in Belle Isle, which is about six miles away.
‘We are particularly keen to hear from anyone who has seen the suspect in the van at any point after it was stolen or when it was abandoned, and we ask that people who were in the vicinity of any part of this incident check their dashcam, doorbell and home CCTV footage to see if they have caught anything that could assist the investigation.
‘People will be understandably appalled by this man’s death in these circumstances, and I want to reassure them that we are absolutely determined to find the person responsible.’
Pictures show police, crime scene investigators and collision investigators combing for clues on Heights Drive, in the west of the city.
The van was found abandoned a number of hours later in Highlands Drive, a small cul-de-sac in south Leeds. It has been taken away for forensic analysis.
Amazon said the driver was working for a third party courier delivering its parcels.
A spokesperson said: ‘This is a terrible incident and our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the delivery driver’s loved ones, family and colleagues at our delivery service provider.
‘We will do all that we can to assist police with their investigations.’
Tributes to the van driver were paid on Facebook.
One wrote: ‘Poor man out working, no doubt to provide for his family, and some low life scum has taken his van.
‘He’s tried to stop them, so he doesn’t lose his job and instead he’s lost his life.’
Another said: ‘RIP to the poor man who’s lost his life doing an honest day’s work and to his poor family.’
And a third wrote: ‘My heart breaks for this man and his family. What is the world coming to when you can’t even be safe doing your job. My thoughts with the emergency services who had to attend this tonight too.’