By Rory Reynolds
POLICE have charged a 39-year-old man in connection with an alleged hit and run that left a young man fighting for his life last night.
The 27-year-old is believed to have been struck by a vehicle on Portobello Road, near to Piershill Square East Edinburgh, at around 1.30am yesterday.
A passer-by phoned the ambulance service after witnessing the man being hit by a car.
Police closed the busy main road between two junctions yesterday to investigate the scene of the incident, with forensic investigators laying down evidence markers in the middle of the road.
A spokesman for the Scottish Ambulance Service said paramedics found the young man in the street with “significant head injuries” after they received a call from a member of the public.He said: “At 1.46am we received reports of a 35-year-old male who had been knocked over on Portobello Road near Piershill Square East.
“The caller said that the individual had been knocked over by a black cab, which had then driven away.
“The individual was found with significant head injuries and was taken to the ERI.
“Somebody had obviously seen this incident happen but the caller wasn’t with the patient when the ambulance arrived.”
Lothian and Borders Police last night confirmed that the man had been arrested in connection with the alleged hit and run at Piershill Square East.
The 39-year-old was released on bail and will appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court at a later date.
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