Epping: Woman arrested over Findon Road school crossing supervisor hit and run

A female driver who allegedly hit an Epping school crossing supervisor and left him in the gutter has come forward to police.

Greensborough highway patrol Sergeant John Henderson with Elleni and Vicki Tzimas. Picture: Kiel Egging

A woman accused of knocking over a lollipop man at an Epping school crossing and then failing to stop to help him has been arrested.

Jim Tzimas, 58, was hit by a silver sedan at the Findon Rd crossing while he was putting flags away around 9am on Monday, February 22.

The South Morang man was left sprawled in the gutter, and a driver of a maroon or burgundy car, believed to be a woman in her 40s, pulled over to help but left before police arrived, telling nearby witnesses she had to get to work.

Mr Tzimas was rushed to the Royal Melbourne Hospital with upper body injuries and placed in a neck brace.

Greensborough Highway Patrol members arrested and interviewed a 50-year-old South Morang woman on Friday, February 26, after she visited Mernda police station regarding the incident.

The woman was released pending further inquiries.

Mr Tzimas’ wife Vicki and daughter Elleni had previously made a passionate plea for the alleged driver involved in the incident to come forward to police.

Elleni said Mr Tzimas hit his head as he fell and had severe bruising and pain in his hip and his leg.

“For what he is going through with this, the physical and mental trauma, he deserves to have the bare minimum,” she said.

“He was left in the gutter so I think the bare minimum they (the driver) can do is to come forward.”

School crossing guard Jim Tzimas was rushed to hospital after he was hit by a car in Epping.

Mr Tzimas worked at the crossing near Meadowglen Primary School and Mill Park Secondary College for 12 months.

“He’s such a funny person and so positive that its hard to imagine him like that,” Elleni said.

“We’ve spoken to him in hospital, he sounds really tired and like he’s in a lot of pain.”

Elleni said her father took up the role to help his mental health and had built up a strong connection with children and the school community.

“He loves interacting with the kids, they find it so interesting that’s he so tall and so massive compared to them,” she said.

“He really loves it and was excited to do it … so I hope he can get back and do what he loves.”

Greensborough highway patrol Sergeant John Henderson said Mr Tzimas waved to get the driver’s attention before the car struck him on his hip.

“If this had happened 30 minutes earlier or during a peak time crossing the road, it could have been devastating,” Sgt Henderson said.

Sgt Henderson said police would also increase patrols and reinforce speed limits around local school crossings in the wake of the incident.

“He’s doing a community service and he should be safe while doing it,” he said.

Anyone who witnessed the collision, has dashcam footage or CCTV is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.