By Karen W Lim

YUNNAN, China - A man who was involved in a hit-and-run accident held his own daughter at knifepoint during a two-hour standoff with police in China.

Zhang Gang, 34, was with his family - his wife and a three-year-old daughter - on an outing when his car collided with another vehicle in Yongren county of Yunnan province last week.

Instead of stopping after the accident, he sped off. A witness lodged a police report and a search was launched.

They spotted Zhang's car near a market and forced him to pull over, reported Daily Chilli.

Just as the police were approaching him, he took out a knife and threatened to harm his wife and daughter.

Local news reports said that Zhang was waving the knife in his hand as he demanded the police to step back. He also injured his wife in the neck during the standoff.

He released her later but held on to his daughter and scratched her on the leg with the knife, causing her to cry loudly. Upon seeing this, Zhang stabbed himself in the thigh.

Local farmer Lu Yin told the media: "I heard the car coming at a fast speed and brakes slamming. Then this man leapt out carrying a huge knife and waving what I thought was a doll.

"But then I realised it was a little child. She seemed shocked but then she started crying when she heard her daddy shouting.

"He held the razor sharp knife at her chest the whole time and was shouting 'Let me go or I'll kill her, I swear it - I will show no mercy'.

"He then climbed back in the car with the kid and still with the knife at her chest, demanded he be allowed to drive off."

Despite persuasion from his mother and other family members to surrender, Zhang continued holding his daughter hostage for two hours.

Police managed to storm the vehicle when Zhang was not paying attention and overpowered him. His daughter was rescued. Both wife and daughter suffered minor injuries.

klim@sph.com.sg

Zhang was stopped near a market and forced to get out of his car.

He took out a knife and threatened to harm his wife and daughter.

Zhang was waving the knife in his hand as he demanded the police to step back. He also injured his wife in the neck during the standoff.

Zhang scratched his daughter's leg with the knife, causing her to cry loudly.

The standoff lasted about two hours.

An eyewitness said Zhang held the razor sharp knife at his daughter's chest the whole time and was shouting 'Let me go or I'll kill her, I swear it - I will show no mercy'.