Kenneth Grant, father of former police minister Troy Grant, drank with road death victim

Police have been told Kenneth Grant was at a party at a friend’s home on Flat Rd, Bolwarra, where a 62-year-old hit-and-run victim was also in attendance with his wife.

Crash scene investigators at the scene on Flat Rd near Maitland where a man was found dead on the side of the road after being hit by a car. Picture: Peter Lorimer.

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The father of former police minister Troy Grant had allegedly been having drinks at a party with a man later killed in a suspected hit-and-run in the Hunter Valley.

Police arrested Kenneth Wayne Grant, 72, after a short pursuit along Belmore Rd at Lorn, west of Newcastle, before charging him with drink driving and crash investigators are now exploring whether Grant snr could have played a role in man’s death.

Medical gear along Flat Road near Maitland where ambulance officers tried to revive a man who had been hit by a car. Picture: Peter Lorimer.

Police have been told Grant snr was at a party at a friend’s home on Flat Rd, Bolwarra, where the 62-year-old hit-and-run victim was also in attendance with his wife.

Friends said the couple had travelled from Sydney for the party and Grant snr had come from his townhouse 8km away in Rutherford.

They said the men had been drinking and eating seafood together.

At the end of the night, police were told the couple decided to walk about 600m to their accommodation and Grant snr allegedly decided to drive home.

The house where the party was held at on Flat Road. Picture: Peter Lorimer.

About 11.30pm police were called to Flat Rd, where they found the 62-year-old man from the party who had allegedly been struck by a vehicle. Police have been told the man’s distraught wife waved down a passing driver who tried to help resuscitate the man.

Paramedics also tried to save the man before he was rushed to John Hunter Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Police responding to the hit-and-run allegedly saw Grant snr driving erratically in the opposite direction in a Mazda BT50 ute.

Medical gear along Flat Road near Maitland where ambulance officers tried to revive a man who had been hit by a car. Picture by Peter Lorimer.

Medical gear along Flat Road near Maitland where ambulance officers tried to revive a man who had been hit by a car. Picture by Peter Lorimer.

Police will allege a short, low-speed pursuit allegedly took place before Grant snr mounted a gutter and stopped on Belmore Rd at Lorn. He failed a roadside breath test before being taken to Maitland Police Station where he allegedly blew 0.108 in a second test.

He was charged with drive with mid-range PCA and police pursuit – not stop and released on bail to appear at Maitland Local Court on December 18.

Crash scene investigators returned to the scene on Monday to take a closer look at marks on the road and a small traffic island.

Forensic examinations, including DNA tests, are also being carried out on Grant snr’s car, seized as evidence after the crash.

The Telegraph understands it could be more than a week before police reach a decision on whether to charge Grant snr, who is himself a retired police officer.

Troy Grant told The Telegraph on Sunday he felt for the man’s family.

“I have very limited information … my first thoughts are with the family and I’m devastated for them,” Mr Grant said.