GREENSBOROUGH Highway Patrol officers have appealed for a hit-and-run driver who struck a school crossing guard in Epping on Monday to come forward.
At about 9am on Monday morning the crossing guard, a 58-year-old South Morang man, was packing up at a school crossing on Findon Road near its intersection with Meadow Glen Drive when he noticed a small silver sedan approaching in the eastbound lane.
The crossing guard, who was midway through crossing the road, waved at the driver of the sedan to stop, but the side of the car collided with him, causing him to fall onto the road and roll into the gutter.
The driver of the sedan stopped a short distance away before fleeing the scene.
Greensborough Highway Patrol Sergeant John Henderson said it was lucky the outcome of the collision was not worse.
“The crossing supervisor was taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital. He’s got no broken bones but they’re still going to do some scans to see if there are any more extensive injuries. He had some pre-existing injuries as well,” he said.
“It’s [pretty average] to see a person drive off after hitting someone, especially at a school crossing. If it had happened 20 minutes earlier it could have been devastating with kids crossing the road.
“It’s not like he wasn’t visible. He had all his reflective gear on and he was packing all his gear up, so he was technically still on duty as a crossing supervisor.”
Sgt Henderson said police were now concentrating on finding the driver of a small silver or grey sedan, who was described as a woman of Caucasian appearance and about 50 years old with light brown hair.
“We’re looking for anyone with dashcam footage or who witnessed the incident or knows of someone with a silver car that has recent damage to it,” he said.
“Most importantly, we want the driver to come forward. They’re aware something has happened, but I don’t know if they know the extent of what has occurred.
“It’s hard to say whether they weren’t paying attention or were distracted by a phone or anything like that. We won’t know until the person comes forward.”
Investigators have received information that a female driver in a maroon/burgundy coloured vehicle was driving directly behind the offending vehicle.
The woman, believed to be in her 40s, stopped to assist the school crossing supervisor but was unable to remain before police arrived.
She is described as having dark brown shoulder length hair, possibly of European descent and told other witnesses that she was on her way to work.
Anyone who witnessed the collision, has dashcam footage or CCTV from nearby is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
