26-year-old Hyderabad man driving cab killed in hit-and-run in California

PTI, Jun 25, 2019, 1:25 PM IST

Washington: A 26-year-old Indian driver has been killed in a major hit-and-run collision in the US State of California, according to a media report.

Syed Waseem Ali, who was from Hyderabad and lived in Fremont, was driving a Toyota and had Sela Henriquez as the passenger via the Lyft ride-hailing service, who were pronounced dead after the crash in San Francisco’s Bayview District on Sunday, the SFGate reported.

The city’s medical examiner’s office has identified Ali and Henriquez, 49, of San Francisco, as the victims who died in the collision reported at about 1:15 a.m. Sunday at Third Street and Paul Avenue, the report added.

A silver Mercedes-Benz was speeding on Third Street and did not stop at a red light at the Paul Avenue intersection, causing a collision with a silver Toyota sedan, police said.

Two passengers from the Mercedes were taken to a hospital but are expected to survive.

The driver fled on foot, leaving the vehicle behind, and had not been arrested till now, police said. A description of the suspect has not been released.

Lyft Inc., a transportation network company based in San Francisco, has issued a statement following the crash.

“We are deeply saddened by this tragic accident and resulting loss of life. Our thoughts are with the victims” family and friends during this difficult time. We have reached out to the rider”s family to offer our support and are working to contact the driver”s family,” the company said.

A GoFundMe page has been created on behalf of the family of Ali to raise money to transport his body and belongings back to Hyderabad where he was from.