Family plea for Ballarat man David Thomson’s killer to come forward

A Ballarat cop unknowingly stopped at the scene of her father’s death, after he was killed by a hit-run driver as he cycled to work.

The daughter of a Ballarat cyclist mowed down in a fatal hit-run says her world instantly broke when she unknowingly attended his crime scene as a police officer.

Sophie Thomson was on her way to Ballarat’s police station when she stopped at the car crash at the intersection near La Trobe St last Thursday.

When she offered to help she was ushered away as those on scene realised it was her father, David Thomson, 60, who had died.

“My world instantly broke,” she said.

“My dad had been killed on the way to work and what’s worse is the coward didn’t even stop or brake afterwards.

“I had unknowingly attended my dad’s own crime scene. Please imagine for a second what it would have been like.”

Mr Thomson was on his way to work at Eureka Concrete when he was struck.

Police have released CCTV of the car involved but so far they have not found the person responsible.

But Ms Thomson is adamant someone knows something that can help solve the case.

“Please if you have seen something, say something. You might be holding on to the missing piece of our puzzle that we need for a bit of closure,” Ms Thomson said.

“I know nothing will bring my dad back but somebody knows something.”

David Thomson died when he was hit by a driver on his way to work on Thursday last week.

David had been planning to return to professional cricket and had started riding to improve his fitness.

Ms Thomson said her father had started riding his bike to work and running so that he could keep up with his two grandchildren.

He also was desperate to continue playing cricket and was told cycling would help his bad knees.

“He even humoured me and said he would come on a few hiking trips with me,” she said.

Detective Senior Constable Sandro Lombardi from the Major Collision Investigation Unit said police were appealing to the community to provide information about the car which hit Mr Thomson.

He pleaded to anyone who might know the owner or driver of the vehicle to not have “allegiance” to them.

“His family wants closure,” he said.

Supplied Editorial Dylan and Sophie Thompson speaking about their father David.

“David was going about his everyday business. Unfortunately in these incidents we’ve got good people who stop and render assistance.

“We’ve got the worst of people — they hit David, then leave the scene. We’re not sure why they do that.

“We want answers for the family.”

Authorities believe the “Japanese-style” car will have damage to the bonnet and windscreen.

“From the vision we have obtained, the vehicle has just struck him and took off,” Det Snr Constable Lombardi said.

As for the driver, Ms Thomson had a simple message.

“To the driver, I know you are watching — please hand yourself in,” she said.

“My police family won’t stop looking for you and whoever is hiding you please make it better and come forward.

“We just need some answers — please.”