Alleged drunk driver evades police by cooking lobsters

The scene of an alleged hit-and-run accident where a Mercedez-Benz (left) crashed into a parked vehicle in Nanjing, Jiangsu province on early March 31. Photos: Modern Express

A police officer questions the man suspected of crashing a Mercedez-Benz into a row of parked cars as he cooks at a nearby restaurant.

Police in Nanjing, Jiangsu province are following up on case involving an alleged drunk driver who witnesses say fled the scene of a seven-car accident and evaded arrest by impersonating a cook at a small nearby restaurant on March 31.

Officers discovered the suspect's abandoned Mercedez-Benz along the intersection of Jiangsu and Ningxia Roads rammed into the nose of a parked car, the impact of which caused a chain reaction and damaged five others lined up behind it. No injuries were reported.

Witnesses described a man had exited the sedan from the passenger's side after the incident. Police soon tracked down a man cooking lobsters at a nearby roadside eatery that fit witness descriptions.

The man, visibly drunk, told police he was the owner and had nothing to do with the accident.

"I am just a cook here, and I am absolutely not the driver of that car," said the man who identified himself as surnamed Liu.

However, his cover was blown after the restaurant owner surnamed Yang returned and denied knowing him.

The man was escorted to police headquarters for further questioning. "Some people say he's the driver, but we haven't been able to confirm it," said one patrolman handling the case.

"A case has been filed and further investigation is underway."