Police are searching for a driver over the alleged hit-and-run death of a 79-year-old grandfather in western Sydney.
Emergency services were called to Abell Road, Melonba, a suburb of Blacktown, about 11.45pm yesterday after two people drove past and saw Damodor Shrestha lying on the side of the road.
Shrestha had been going for a jog when he was allegedly hit by a purple coupe and left to die.
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“[The vehicle] likely have damage to the front side, particularly to the headlight and its windscreen,” Inspector Michael Walsh said.
Police have released images and video of the car and are appealing for the public’s help to identify it and the people inside.
Shrestha, from Nepal, was visiting family in Sydney and had just been out for dinner celebrating his daughter’s 25th wedding anniversary.
His daughter, Sagun Shrestha, said she and her family were “absolutely devastated”.
“He was a loving father, husband and source of inspiration to his grandchildren,” she told 9News.
Residents said they feared walking along Abell Road, where there was not a proper footpath.
“I fear for my life walking up and down this road. It’s scary between trucks and cars and swerving in between parked cars it’s dangerous. I’m scared,” one resident, Lisa, said.
“We people here already knew that something bad is going to happen,” another, Srikanth, added.
“They are building up homes left right and centre, they should be building up roads, proper infrastructure,” neighbour Karan said.
In a statement this afternoon, Blacktown City Mayor Brad Bunting said he “extends his deepest sympathy and the condolences of Blacktown City Council to the Melonba family who are today mourning the loss of their father Damodar Dashresta/Shrestha, following a hit and run incident in Abell Road”.
Bunting said the council had recently contacted residents regarding the building of a footpath on Abell Road, where construction is “scheduled to commence soon”.
Police are urging anyone with information, dashcam footage from the area, or who witnessed the incident to call Crime Stoppers.
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