A motorist who fatally ran over a man has been arrested by Sharjah Police. The police effected the arrest in under five hours after the accident was reported on Sunday evening.

The Arab motorist in his 50s confessed to have run over the man. He said he fled due to “fear and confusion”.

Traffic Department officials have said that the investigation team from Al Buhairah Police Station managed to identify and arrest the suspect in under five hours of the incident.

During interrogations, he confessed to have fled the spot as he thought that the pedestrian sustained minor injuries.

“Fleeing a scene of an accident is a crime. Drivers must act responsibly and provide help to the injured that could save their lives instead of fleeing which could lead to someone’s death,” Sharjah Police said in a statement.

The official urged motorists to adhere to traffic rules.

A top official at Sharjah Police said that the authority will not tolerate any motorist involved in hit-and-run accidents. They added that the driver is obliged to call the police at the site of the accident immediately.

If the motorist fails to stop after committing the accident, he or she will be fined up to Dh25,000 and imprisoned if the victim is injured or killed.