Victoria Police have blasted hit run drivers leaving two people a day to bleed to death on the state’s roads

HEARTLESS motorists are leaving two people to die each day in hit and run crashes, prompting the state’s top cop to call them “unAustralian”.

HEARTLESS hit-and-run drivers are leaving people to die an average of twice a day on ­Victoria’s roads.

The state’s top traffic cop has now lashed out at the cowardly fugitives, dubbing them “un-Australian” and lacking “any kind of human decency”.

DEER HUNTERS LINKED TO JAMIESON FATHER OF TWO BRYCE AIRS’ DEATH

EIGHT PEOPLE INJURED IN PAKENHAM CAR CRASH

HIT AND RUN CRASH IN BRAYBROOK CAUGHT ON DASH CAM FOOTAGE

Police data obtained by the Herald Sun reveals that seven people died last year after drivers abandoned crash scenes. Officers investigated 736 hit-and-run incidents in 2017.

Assistant Commissioner Doug Fryer said in some of those cases drivers ­involved were not initially at fault, but ­because they had fled the scene they had committed a crime.

“For me, the idea that anyone involved in a crash leaves someone needing some support and possible medical assistance ... it’s ­illegal, but it’s just un-Australian,” he said.

“You don’t just leave people when they are injured on the side of the road.”

Those drivers had vanished without taking responsibility: “It’s just not showing any kind of human decency to leave someone literally bleeding to death.”

Many fleeing drivers were high on drugs, drunk, in stolen cars and/or unlicensed. But others, an analysis of last year’s statistics shows, had clean driving records and simply panicked.

MCIU investigate after a woman was killed in a hit run motor car accident on Warrigal road Oakleigh. Picture: Nicole Garmston

Further analysis of the 2017 hit-and-run cases reveals:

— VICTIMS ranged from ­primary school children to a man aged 99.

— OF the seven deaths, six ­occurred between September and December.

— THERE were 154 “serious” incidents among the 736 total.

— IN one case, a man turned his back on dying friends, leaving them in the car while he ran away.

— FEBRUARY was last year’s worst month for the crime, with 82 incidents.

Police prioritise hit-and-run incidents, with the fugitive taskforce, the major collision investigation unit and crime squads lined up to investigate. Heartbreaking cases which rocked families recently included the four-day manhunt to catch alleged killer driver Sebastian Kennett, who mowed down cardiac nurse Lynda Hansen.

She initially survived, but died despite frantic efforts by bystanders.

Motorcyclist Keith Stevens was killed in another incident when his bike was dragged for several metres after impact ­before bursting into flames.

Police last month revealed that a group of illegal deer hunters are key suspects in the hit-and-run killing of father of two Bryce Airs.

Oakleigh hit run victim Lynda Hansen.

And in February this year, police were amazed nobody died when Zhane Saiah Su’a, allegedly driving a stolen car, ploughed into mum ­Michelle Nash, her two daughters and five other children in Officer, leaving all injured, some of them seriously.

Ms Nash, still traumatised, said prison terms were a must in all such cases — especially where there were serious injuries and death.

“I can’t imagine what sort of person leaves someone on the ground, especially a child, and just drives away knowing they are hit and injured,” she said.

“We need tough penalties to show that this crime won’t be tolerated.”

Assistant Commissioner Fryer said there was no acceptable excuse to run away from the scene of a crash.

EIGHT PEOPLE INJURED IN PAKENHAM CAR CRASH

“The idea that anyone doesn’t stay at the scene and look after a seriously injured person is just disgraceful,” he said.

Under Victorian law, anyone involved in a crash must immediately stop.

Police can charge drivers with failure to stop after an ­accident, failure to render ­assistance, failure to exchange names and addresses and failure to report an accident to police station.

Courts have handed some jail sentences to hit-and-run offenders, including a nine-month term for drugged-­driver Rachael Boomsma.

She left a teenage boy for dead after mowing him down while going to collect her daughter from school.

A drunk Sally Cleary, 69, got 16 months after leaving a cyclist for dead after spending a day at a winery.

Keith Stevens, 33, who was killed in a hit and run collision in Mitcham.

FAMILY LEFT IN HIT-RUN HELL

AMONG the screams of children, Michelle Nash could hear that of her nine-year-old daughter: “Mum, mum, mum.”

Tayla was one of seven children sent flying and scattered on a Pakenham intersection after a horror hit-and-run.

Ms Nash was also hit, ­suffering broken bones in her back, shoulders and ribs, and could not get up to find her two daughters — her oldest Tayla, 9, was dragged 15m under the car on February 16.

“Now we are scared of loud noises and bangs. The other day a motorbike had backfired and we (Tayla and Michelle) just screamed,” she said.

“That day will stay with us forever. Knowing my kids were there and I couldn’t get up and help them just gives me a sick feeling.”

Michelle and Brad Nash with their nine year old daughter Tayla in their family home in Officer. Picture: Eugene Hyland

Despite Tayla suffering burns on her legs, scarring and lost feeling in her thigh and knee — she got up and walked away from the crash before being taken to hospital.

But Chelsey thought her mum had died as she could not see her because they were taken to different hospitals.

“After it happened it was all screaming. But among it all I could hear was Chelsey screaming ‘mum, mum, mum’. That’s something you never forget,” she said.

“In hospital, someone passed me the phone while I was in the bed so she could hear my voice and then she was OK.”

Making matters worse, ­alleged hit-run driver Zhane Saiah Su’a, 21, was not arrested until three days later.

“They (Tayla and Chelsey) were scared and thought he was going to do it again,” Ms Nash said.

She had just picked up her girls from school on that ­fateful Friday when the incident occurred at 3.30pm on the Princes Hwy in Officer — but it has changed her life forever.

Still in pain and traumatised, she now feels like a prisoner in her own home.

“I only do things if the kids want to. I haven't socialised with friends since. I just want to stay safe with my family at home,” she said.

Mr Su’a has been charged with 41 offences and police ­allege he was unlicensed and driving a stolen car when he ploughed through the ­pedestrian crossing.

The scene in Pakenham after the pedestrians were mowed down.

@AleksDevic