An individual delivering goods tragically lost his life after being struck by his own van during an apparent robbery.
Claudiu-Carol Kondor, aged in his forties, was found seriously hurt by West Yorkshire Police at approximately 6.50pm on Tuesday in Heights Drive, Wortley, Leeds.
Despite receiving immediate medical assistance from ambulance personnel, he was pronounced deceased at the location shortly after.
Authorities mentioned that the victim had dropped off a parcel at an address about half a mile away at roughly 6.45pm and upon his return to the van, he encountered an individual trying to steal it.
While attempting to thwart the theft, the perpetrator sped off with the victim, who was partially inside the vehicle through the passenger door.
The van, a plain silver Ford Transit Cargo, then collided with two parked vehicles in Heights Drive and drove away, leaving the victim injured on the street between the junctions of Heights Way and Heights Bank.
The van was later recovered by the police.
The family of the victim has been notified.
Chief Inspector James Entwistle, the lead investigator, stated: ‘Our inquiry is in its early stages, but from the information available to us, this appears to be an extremely shocking incident where the victim lost his life while carrying out his duties as a delivery driver.
‘His relatives have been informed and they are devastated by this tragic event. We are providing them with the necessary support during this challenging period and are working diligently to provide them with the answers they seek.
‘We are conducting thorough investigations to determine the complete circumstances and identify the individual whose extremely reckless actions led to his demise.
‘The community will understandably be horrified by this man’s death in these circumstances, and we are fully committed to apprehending the responsible party.’
Amazon specified that the driver was employed by a third-party shipping company for parcel deliveries.
In their statement, they said: ‘This is a tragic incident and our thoughts and condolences are with the family, loved ones, and colleagues of the driver at our courier service provider.
‘We will provide all possible assistance to the authorities in their investigations.’
Mike Neill, the Operations Manager of SP Transport Group, initiated a GoFundMe page in memory of Mr. Kondor.
The statement reads: ‘It is with heavy hearts that we announce the tragic loss of our esteemed colleague, Claudiu-Carol Kondor.
‘Claudiu was a dedicated and cherished member of the SP Transport Group family, who tragically lost his life on August 20, 2024, during an altercation amid a van theft. This devastating loss has left us all broken.
‘Claudiu was not just a colleague but a friend, a confidant, and an esteemed member of our team. His dedication to his work and the camaraderie he brought will be forever remembered. The impact of this tragedy extends beyond our workplace, affecting all who had the privilege of knowing Claudiu.
‘We are initiating this GoFundMe campaign to support Claudiu’s family during this trying time.
‘Our objective is to ease some of the financial burdens they are facing, including funeral expenses, legal costs, and any unforeseen challenges that may arise.
‘While no amount of money can fill the void left by Claudiu’s departure, we hope to offer some solace and assistance to his loved ones.’
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