Driver sought by police after fatal hit-run on Princes Highway
The hunt is on for a driver who struck a man on the Princes Highway on Wednesday night and left him for dead. Detectives have revealed details of damage to the vehicle that could help identify who was behind the wheel.
Police & Courts
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Police are hunting a driver who left a man for dead in the middle of the Princes Highway.
The pedestrian, a 35-year-old Noble Park man, was fatally struck on the highway in Noble Park at 8.05pm on Wednesday.
The driver did not render assistance and took off from the scene.
The man was found badly injured lying on the middle of the busy road in Noble Park by a person driving past just after 8pm.
The passer-by alerted emergency services and the man was taken to hospital in a critical condition but could not be saved.
Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives believe a 2010 — 2016 Holden Cruze struck the man based on a driver side mirror cover left at the scene.
Detective Senior Sergeant Gerard Clancy said the car would have damage to the front bonnet guard and windscreen.
He urged the driver to come forward, warning it was only a matter of time before investigators would come knocking.
“They need to make themselves known to police so we can get the story as to what happened and why that did that (leave the scene),” Det Sen Sgt Clancy said.
In a strange twist, it appears the man was standing in the middle of the road when he was struck.
Seconds earlier a separate car had to swerve around him after he again walked on to the road.
Sen Sgt Clancy said the suspect car was travelling east along the highway toward Dandenong when it struck the man who had “stopped in the middle lane”.
The driver did not stop to help him or call for help.
CCTV footage obtained by police shows the same man crossing the highway from the other side moments earlier.
A car turning right toward Dandenong from King George Parade had to swerve to avoid hitting him.
The driver made contact with detectives this afternoon.
Police hope the driver might be able to explain the pedestrian’s movements leading up to the crash.
Sen Sgt Clancy said: “We don’t know what the pedestrian was doing in the area. (His behaviour) is unusual.”
It is at this stage unknown if he was affected by drugs or alcohol.
Police are appealing for witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage of the incident or man to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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