Ian Pullen: Police appeal for information almost two years since New Zealand firefighter killed
As the second anniversary of the hit-and-run death of New Zealand firefighter Ian Pullen, who was found dead in the Hunter Valley, police have appealed for an anonymous caller to come forward.
Newcastle
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Detectives investigating the hit-and-run death of New Zealand firefighting pilot Ian Pullen believe the car that struck the father-of-three returned to the scene and the occupants got out to see him still alive before callously driving off.
Hunter Valley police will renew pleas for information into the 2018 death of Mr Pullen, who was left to die at Glenridding, a suburb of Singleton.
Mr Pullen, 44, had only just arrived in Australia to work as a water bomber in the bushfire fighting effort when he was struck walking home from a pub between 4am and 5.30am on September 29.
On the eve of the second anniversary of his death, Strike Force Awabakal investigators have now revealed they received an anonymous tip that several people were in the car that struck Mr Pullen.
The anonymous caller also said the occupants returned to the scene of the hit-and-run after immediately taking off. Some of the occupants got out of the car and saw Mr Pullen was still alive.
But instead of calling for assistance, they left him to die on the side of the road.
They have asked for the caller to again come forward. A $350,000 reward remains for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.
Police will address the media on Monday regarding the anonymous tip and the investigation.
Hunter Valley Police District Crime Manager, Detective Inspector Matthew Zimmer, said: “Ian Pullen had come to the region to help the community battle a bushfire threat and to think that someone struck him with their vehicle and left him to die is abhorrent.
“An anonymous tip-off has led investigators to believe the driver of the vehicle knew they had struck someone, and police are interested in their movements after exiting the car.
“We are appealing for that caller to come forward and speak with investigators so we can continue to piece together exactly what happened on that tragic morning.
“It’s been nearly two years since Mr Pullen’s death, and we want to provide some answers for his heart-broken family. They need to know what happened to their loving son, husband and father.”