Major Collision Investigation Unit Senior Sergeant Jeffrey Smith is calling for information about a hit and run in Pearcedale on Sunday night. 54000 Picture: Kim Cartmell
By Bridget Cook
TWO people have been assisting police with inquiries over a hit and run in Pearcedale on Sunday night, which left a 16-year-old boy with life-threatening head injuries.
A 20-year-old local man and an 18-year-old local woman have been assisting police with their investigation but have been released pending further enquires.
The boy, an only child from Pearcedale, was walking along South Boundary Road in Pearcedale with friends when he was hit by a car about 10pm on Sunday.
The boy remains in a serious condition.
Major Collision Investigation Unit Senior Sergeant Jeffrey Smith said police did not believe the vehicle would have extensive damage to it, but did bel-ieve the driver would have known what they hit.
“I really don’t think they could have hit the boy and thought they hit anything else other than a person,” he said.
“What I have to say to the person is, you would have to know what you have done, don’t think you’ll get away with it because you will get caught.
“I don’t understand the mentality of people prepared to leave someone on the road and drive off.”
Police believe the vehicle involved in the incident is a light-coloured tray-back ute, yellow or with yellow on it, similar to a tradesman’s vehicle.
Sen Sgt Smith said all the boys were local, from the Pearcedale and Frankston area.
“They were staying at the victim’s house for a sleepover,” he said.
“The mother had done all the right things … set them up with pizza.
“These are decent kids. They were just getting around being kids.”
Intensive care paramedic Stephen McKinnon said when they arrived at the scene they found the 16 year old unconscious on the road.
“The boy had suffered a severe head injury,” he said.
“Given the extent of the injury we decided to place him into an induced coma and take over breathing for him.
“That involved giving the boy drugs to sedate and paralyse him, before placing a tube down his throat to secure his airway.
Mr McKinnon said the head injury was life threatening.
“It did appear, however, as though it was an isolated injury,” he said. “It didn’t look like he had any broken limbs.
The boy was flown by air ambulance to the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
Police still wish to speak to anyone who may have witnessed the collision.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
