A tragic incident in Wortley has led to a murder charge after a delivery driver lost his life during an alleged van theft.
Mark Ross, a 32-year-old from Armley, is scheduled to appear at Leeds Magistrates’ Court on Friday morning, facing a charge of murder.
The victim, 42-year-old Claudiu-Carol Kondor from Sheffield, was found dead on Tuesday evening in Heights Drive.
The incident occurred after his silver Ford Transit Cargo van was reportedly stolen while he was making a delivery on Alliance Street.
According to the police, Mr. Kondor had been delivering a package for Amazon when he returned to his van around 6:45 p.m., only to discover someone attempting to steal it.
In an attempt to stop the theft, Mr. Kondor found himself partially inside the passenger door as the van sped off. The vehicle then collided with two parked cars before being driven away, leaving Mr. Kondor severely injured in the street.
Officers arrived at the scene five minutes later to find the delivery driver unconscious, with bystanders desperately trying to assist him. Despite their efforts, Mr. Kondor was pronounced dead at the scene.
The police also arrested a 24-year-old man on Thursday on suspicion of murder, who remains in custody. A woman arrested at the same time on suspicion of assisting an offender has been released under investigation.
Mr. Kondor was not directly employed by Amazon but worked for a company contracted to carry out their deliveries.
His death has deeply affected those who knew him. A GoFundMe campaign set up for his family has already raised more than £20,000.
Mike Neill, the operations manager for SP Transport Group, where Mr. Kondor worked, expressed the profound impact of this loss on the team. He wrote, “This unimaginable loss has left us all devastated. Claudiu was more than just a colleague – he was a friend, a confidant, and a valued member of our team. His commitment to his work and the camaraderie he brought to the workplace will never be forgotten.”
This tragic event has sparked a wave of support for Mr. Kondor’s family and serves as a sobering reminder of the dangers faced by delivery drivers in their line of work.
