By CASEY NEILL
BYSTANDERS put their own safety aside to block traffic after a hit-run driver left a teenager unconscious in the middle of Springvale Road last week.
Police are appealing for witnesses to the incident, which occurred just before 11pm on Sunday 19 January and left the 19-year-old victim in The Alfred hospital with serious injuries.
Greater Dandenong CIU Constable Nic Hayes said he was crossing Springvale Road with a green pedestrian light about 200 metres south of Springvale railway station.
“As he’s got to the northbound traffic lane of the road, a vehicle has come through and collided with that man,” he said.
“The driver would have to know that he has collided with a pedestrian.
“The pedestrian has come up onto the bonnet of the vehicle on the driver’s side and then fallen by the wayside as the driver’s braked.
“Then the driver continued on, having to drive around the victim.
“He wouldn’t know if the victim would be alive or dead.”
The victim lost consciousness, received grazes to his knees, elbows and hands and had to be hospitalised before returning home on Wednesday night.
“At the intersection where he’s been hit, it’s 60 kilometres an hour,” Const Hayes said.
“It could have been a lot worse.”
The car was last seen travelling north on Springvale Road. Police haven’t determined the vehicle’s registration number but described it as a small, light-coloured, four-door sedan.
“Possibly a Nissan, but at this stage we’re unsure of the exact make and model,” Const Hayes said.
“The vehicle would have damage to possibly the driver’s side of the bonnet.
“It doesn’t appear that any lights or anything like that have been broken in the incident because there’s no debris.”
Const Hayes said several people were approaching the crossing when the collision occurred.
“Luckily for the victim, because one of the witnesses has come out and actually managed to stop traffic, which has ensured the victim wasn’t hit a second time,” he said.
“I would like to say thank you to those people.
“They haven’t thought about their own safety. They’ve all run straight into the middle of the road.
“One’s managed to stop traffic, someone’s got on the phone and called police and ambulance, and somebody else has tended to the victim, so they did a great job.”
Const Hayes urged other witnesses and anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppers.com.au.
To view CCT footage of the hit run go to dandenong.starcommunity.com.au
