A YOUNG man is in hospital fighting for his life after a taxi driver deliberately drove at him in a quiet housing estate in Glasgow’s Southside.

Police today begin their hunt for the taxi driver who bolted from the scene in Crookston after the attack which they are treating as attempted murder.

The 24-year-old victim is in a critical condition in hospital after he was knocked down by the taxi on Dalmellington Road just after midnight yesterday.

The victim and his friend, 22, had left a party nearby and asked the taxi driver to give them a lift home.

The taxi driver, however, refused and ran over the man.

Detective Inspector Greig Wilkie, of Greater Glasgow CID, said: “From our investigations so far, it would appear that the two men had left a party nearby and had asked the taxi driver to get a lift home, however, the driver, for whatever reason, refused to take them. It then appears that the injured man went on to the road which is when the taxi deliberately drove at him.

“The taxi didn’t stop and drove off along Dalmellington Road, towards Crookston Road at Raeswood Road.”

Shocked neighbours in the quiet housing estate say they heard a commotion just after midnight.

They ran to the aid of the young man and waited on an ambulance arriving.

The man suffered serious head injuries and is being treated at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.

One resident, who returned home from a night out, said: “My taxi wasn’t allowed into the estate. There was several police cars and an ambulance.

“I didn’t hear until today what had happened, it is shocking.”

Another neighbour said that the estate is often used by people as a shortcut to the main road.

Yesterday, uniformed police officers stood guard at either side of the crime scene cordon.

Two detectives also spent several hours conducting interviews with witnesses living on the estate.

Police have said they also want to speak to the occupants of another black hackney who had been dropped off nearby at the time of the incident.

DI Wilkie said: “”We are in the process of tracing the occupants of another black Hackney taxi who had been dropped off nearby just at the time of the incident, however, we have yet to trace the driver of that taxi and indeed another Hackney taxi driver who we know, were also in the area at the time.”

The detective also made a plea for the driver responsible to hand himself in.

He said: “This was a shocking incident, which has left a young man very seriously injured.

“I would appeal to the taxi driver involved to come forward to police himself as soon as possible.

“I would also ask anyone who has information that will assist officers with their enquiry to contact officers at Govan Police Station via 101. Please quote reference number 0053/25/06 when calling. Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be contacted in confidence on 0800 555 111.”