Dundee takeaway owner’s car ‘destroyed’ after hit-and-run in his own driveway

By James Simpson

June 23 2022, 11:52am

Sanat Ghatak with his damaged car at his home in Douglas.

A Dundee takeaway owner said his vehicle has been “destroyed” after a hit-and-run in his own driveway.

Sanat Ghatak was fast asleep in his Douglas home in the early hours of Wednesday when a “big boom” shocked him awake.

He was horrified to discover a car had veered into his driveway on Ballindean Road and smashed into his Land Rover Discovery.

The car was shunted towards the neighbour’s garden due to the driveway hit-and-run in Dundee.

The driver of the black Citroen, thought to be stolen, fled on foot after the crash and police had to be phoned, although he is yet to be traced.

A spokeswoman for the force confirmed officers are trying to trace a 17-year-old man in connection with the potential theft and subsequent hit-and-run.

Victim Sanat, who owns the Shaheen Takeaway on Strathmartine Road, fears his car is a write-off.

‘It must have been moving at some speed’

The 51-year-old said: “The car came from Balunie Avenue before it careered into the driveway.

“I was awoken to a big boom and there was the sound of the other car moving against ours.

“Lots of neighbours came out because the noise was that loud from the impact.

“To have moved a two-and-a-half tonne vehicle that far and caused this level of damage it must have been going at some speed.”

Douglas hit-and-run

He added: “Our next door neighbour had not long returned home from work so he contacted the police when it happened.

“There were at least two occupants in the other car, a man and a woman, with potentially a third person.

“They fled towards the direction of Ballindean Terrace on foot.”

The white Land Rover was also damaged at the driver side.

He added: “I do fear my vehicle has been written off given the damage to the back and the front driver side.

“My wife has been on to the insurance trying to get it all that side of things sorted out.

“It’s depressing that this has happened and the extent of the damage caused to the garden and our neighbour’s garden.

“The only thing that we can be thankful of is that no one has been injured in this incident.”

Car may have been stolen

It comes after a spate of break-ins at garages across Tayside.

A Police Scotland spokesman said: “Officers were called to reports of a car having crashed into a parked car and a wall on Ballindean Road, Dundee around 12.20am on Wednesday.

“Inquiries are ongoing to establish if the car had been stolen from the local area.

“A 17 year-old male youth remains outstanding in connection with the incident.”