Man charged over fall from car after rubbish row

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A Hamilton man has been charged after allegedly dumping rubbish near another man's house and then driving off with the man on the bonnet of his car.

The man was confronted after rubbish was dumped on vacant council-owned land opposite Brookfield Accommodation in Dey St.

As the car drove off the victim grabbed on to the bonnet and was carried with the vehicle until he fell face-first from it and rolled several metres near an intersection at Fox St, suffering serious head injuries. The car driver left the scene.

A service station attendant rushed to the injured man with jackets to keep him warm. He found him bleeding profusely from an ear and put him in the recovery position.

Yesterday the driver was arrested and charged with failing to stop or ascertain injury.

The injured man, who studies at Waikato University and lived alone at Brookfield Accommodation, was last night in Waikato Hospital's intensive care unit.

It is understood he has a fractured skull and bleeding on the brain and is in a coma.

Members of his family had flown from England and were yesterday at his bedside.

The family did not want to be interviewed but it is understood they are upset by earlier reports that the man was joy-riding on the vehicle at the time of the accident.

Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Andy Bu Bear of the Hamilton CIB said the driver was found at his home a short time after the incident.

He said the man was arrested after police spoke to several witnesses who saw the incident.

Mr Bu Bear said the incident highlighted the risk of people confronting offenders and he urged members of the public to allow police to deal with such situations.

"We need the community's assistance in such matters but we need to ensure people keep themselves safe."

Police are not ruling out further charges for the driver, who will appear in the Hamilton District Court tomorrow.