Van hits cyclist, 60, and flees: two arrested near Pecinci
A van driver struck a 60-year-old man pushing a bicycle on July 19 and fled with a passenger. The injured man died. Police have arrested both, and each was ordered held for up to 30 days.
- Police arrested V. M. (1970) and M. T. (1998) over a fatal hit-and-run near Pecinci, acting on prosecutors' orders.
- On July 19 a van struck a 60-year-old man pushing a bicycle; the injured man later died.
- The driver is charged with a serious traffic-safety offense and failure to help, while the passenger is charged with aiding the perpetrator.
- A pre-trial judge ordered both held in custody for up to 30 days.
The Sremska Mitrovica police department has arrested two men over a fatal traffic accident in the Pecinci area. Behind the wheel of the van was V. M. (1970), with a passenger, M. T. (1998), beside him. Both are charged in connection with the July 19 crash that killed a 60-year-old man.
The Interior Ministry announced the arrests on July 24. According to police, V. M. was driving a Ford Transit that day when he struck the 60-year-old, who was pushing a bicycle. The suspects allegedly left the injured man behind and fled the scene together. The man died of his injuries.
The driver is charged with a serious offense against public traffic safety and with failing to help a person injured in a road accident. These are two separate criminal offenses that prosecutors are treating together. Neither suspect has been convicted.
What happened on July 19
According to the police reconstruction, the incident took place on a road near Pecinci. The older man was moving along the edge of the roadway, pushing his bicycle, when the van is believed to have hit him. Rather than stop and help, the driver and passenger allegedly drove on.
Fleeing the scene makes such cases harder to resolve. Police usually reconstruct events from marks on the road, damage to the vehicle, and witness accounts. Five days passed between the crash and the arrests. After being detained, the suspects were brought to the Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office in Ruma.
In cases like this, police also check whether the driver was under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and whether the vehicle was roadworthy. Those findings are part of the pre-trial procedure and are established through expert analysis.
Why were both men arrested, not only the driver?
The passenger, M. T., is not charged with the crash itself but with aiding the perpetrator after the offense. That charge covers actions that help a suspect avoid detection or responsibility, such as concealment or fleeing together. The law treats such conduct as a separate offense.
A pre-trial judge in Ruma ordered both men held for up to 30 days. Detention at this stage is not a verdict. It is meant to secure the suspects’ presence and allow the investigation to proceed. In the coming period, prosecutors will gather evidence before any possible indictment.
Failure to help an injured person is a distinct element of this case. The law requires those involved in an accident to assist the injured and wait for the authorities. Ignoring that duty, together with fleeing, can significantly increase the potential penalty.
For now, only the suspects’ initials, years of birth, and the charges are known. The next steps depend on the experts’ findings and the prosecutors’ decisions. How do you think drivers who flee a scene where someone has died should be treated?
