The hunt for a hit-and-run driver who killed a 10-year-old girl on Tuesday has been widened to neighboring provinces, it was confirmed last night by Changchun Public Security Bureau in northeast China's Jilin Province.

Jin Ping was dragged along by the white Lincoln automobile for nearly three kilometers, as Fu Zhongtao drove on despite the desperate shouts of witnesses.

Local police have called for assistance from provincial police forces to help in the manhunt.

Wang Min, governor of Jilin, and Nei Wenquan, director of the Jilin Provincial Public Security Bureau, said they attach great importance to the case and ordered the area's public security departments to form a special group to catch the perpetrator as quickly as possible. They also urged departments to care for the family of the victim.

The tragedy happened on Tuesday afternoon in Changchun, the provincial capital, after Fu hit Jin and ignored over 60 witnesses calling to him to stop.

The police were at the scene again yesterday questioning locals and have appealed for more witnesses to come forward, whilst a dozen cars have been dispatched to scour the city and surrounding areas.

A post-mortem examination report released yesterday afternoon shows the girl died from head injuries, including a fractured skull.

According to investigators, the original owner of the car lent it to his friend, who in turn lent it to Fu. The original owner claimed that the vehicle was given to him to repay a debt, but police said the transfer of ownership did not go through legal procedures.

"If we can't catch Fu, the owner of the hit-and-run car may shoulder associative liability," said a spokesperson for the Changchun Public Security Bureau.

Police are searching for 29-year-old Fu, who is from Jiutai in Jilin. It is understood he had been living with his girlfriend in Changchun.

(China Daily February 4, 2005)