Man regrets not responding to sound of crash that killed Jordan Purcell in Alexandra

An elderly man who heard the sickening impact that killed a young Alexandra footballer but did go outside to see what happened says he now blames himself for the man’s death.

Generic crime scene images showing Police crime scene tape across road. Crime scene was at Woolloomooloo. Pics Bill Hearne

An Alexandra man has revealed his heartbreak at unknowingly leaving a young footballer to die on the side of the road after he was struck and killed in a horror hit and run.

Ernie Hunt, 80, said he heard a vehicle and a “thump” from inside his house soon after midnight on Sunday but decided not to investigate.

Jordan Purcell, 20, died from his injuries after he was struck by a vehicle believed to have been driven by one of his teammates from the Alexandra Football Club.

“I think of that poor boy laying there and that maybe if I had have gone outside I could have called an ambulance,” Mr Hunt told the Herald Sun.

“I didn’t even know him but to see those flowers today and know that I could have helped.

“It’s upsetting.”

Jordan Purcell was killed in a hit-run crash in Alexandra.

Flowers left at the scene of a hit-run crash that killed Jordan Purcell.

Major collision investigators were still in Alexandra today as they attempted to confirm the circumstances leading up to the incident.

Mr Purcell was found lying on the road on Hall Street with life-threatening injuries.

Paramedics worked to save him but he died on the way to hospital about 12.15am on Sunday.

The alleged driver of the car — a 23-year-old man believed to be one of his teammates — was interviewed by police on Sunday and released pending further inquiries.

The circumstances were still being investigated and officers were probing whether the driver realised he had hit his friend.

Police have not yet ruled out if alcohol or drugs were a factor.

Flowers, a cricket cap and a card with the words “Fly High Jordy” were left at the scene today as the tight-knit town attempted to come to grips with the tragedy.

Jordan Purcell was killed in an alleged hit-run incident in Alexandra early Sunday morning.

A 20-year-old Alexandra man presented himself to police shortly after the incident but was released without charge and was being treated as a witness, police said.

Mr Purcell’s death has left the community in shock.

One Alexandra Rebels club member, who asked not to be named, said Mr Purcell was a “popular figure at the club and had lots of mates”.

“He was so young, to think he had the world at his feet and now his parents are having to bury him, no family should have to go through that,” the man said.

“It’s horrific.”

Mr Purcell, 20, had lived for multiple years in Alexandra but his family recently relocated to Mt Duneed, near Geelong.

A Toyota Hilux, believed to have been involved in the incident, was being examined on Sunday by forensics detectives as part of the investigation.

Detective Sergeant Daryll Out from the Major Collisions Investigation Unit said the victim’s family was devastated.

“They are distraught, they’re very, very upset as you’d naturally expect,” Det-Sgt Out said.

“Small towns in particular it has a greater ripple effect.

“It affects the community a lot faster, because a lot of people are known to one another.”

Police said he had been walking up Hall St near Alexandra Secondary College.

“A witness found him lying on the road,” Det-Sgt Out said.

“They were very upset, but they contacted Ambulance Victoria straight away.”

Jordan Purcell was killed in a hit and run incident in Alexandra early Sunday morning 16th of June 2019

Detective Sergeant Out said he was still surprised that people leave the scene of serious crashes.

“I can’t understand why people don’t stop to help,” Det-Sgt Out said.

“People panic and there may be other reasons why they don’t stay at the scene or stop to help.

“It surprises me every time people don’t stop to help somebody else.”

A Hall St resident, who asked not to be named, said he heard the incident.

“I heard some noise after midnight, screeching tyres, now there’s someone dead,” the resident said.

“I assumed it was normal hoon behaviour, idiots tearing up and down the street.

“It is another absolute tragedy but it is not unexpected with the way hoon behaviour goes on in small country towns.”

Fredericka Marr also lives in Hall St, about 200m from the scene of the accident but did not hear anything last night.

“It was quite foggy here last night,” she said.

“Any accident is sad.”

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Ms Marr said the speed limit down the street was 40km/h.

“You do hear a lot of cars, you know they are going faster than they are supposed to,” she said.

“We do have quite a good police presence in Alexandra, they are always driving up the streets.”

The death takes Victoria’s road toll to 149, compared with 97 this time last year.

Anyone with information is urged to phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.