Baxter father Richard Purcell was hit and killed by a car in Pearcedale in the early hours of Sunday morning.By BRIDGET COOK
THE community is mourning the loss of a father of two who was hit and killed by a car in Pearcedale on Sunday morning.
Baxter man Richard Purcell, 53, was killed when he was struck by a car on the Tooradin-Baxter Road, about one kilometre east of Dandenong Hastings Road, between 2.30am and 3.30am.
On Sunday police appealed for information and for someone to come forward over the incident, after a woman driving home located his body lying on the side of the road.
Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives interviewed a 35-year-old Cranbourne man on Sunday night, after he came forward to police. He has been released pending further inquiries.
Detectives said they believed Mr Purcell may have been lying on the road when he was struck by a vehicle.
The stretch of road is not well lit and it was believed that the motorist may not have even realised a person was on the road.
It’s believed Mr Purcell was walking home from a party when the incident happened.
Mr Purcell leaves behind his wife Shirley and children Ricky, 22, and Tanika, 12.
