A search is underway for the driver who hit and killed an autistic young man in a horror hit-and-run as his devastated loved ones paid tribute.
Aaran Brown, 27, was left for dead in Derrimut, in Melbourne’s west, shortly before 3.50am on Sunday by a driver who hit him in a silver Holden Rodeo.
The Sunshine West man had been walking and was crossing the road when he was hit on Boundary Road between William Angliss Drive and Mt Derrimut Road.
Mr Brown’s body was found shortly afterwards lying in the middle of the road by another driver and could not be resuscitated.
Police believe the pickup truck involved was dumped nearby before the driver fled the scene. They remained at large on Sunday night.
Aaran Brown, 27, was presumed dead after being hit and killed in Melbourne’s west.
Aaran (pictured) has been described as a good and kind-hearted person.
Heartbroken loved ones described Mr. Brown as a good, kind-hearted person who loved playing chess, video games and listening to music.
“I’m sorry to hear he was a good boy,” a friend wrote.
His sister, Kaela Brown, said 9News She was devastated.
“He should never have been where he was. He was very innocent,” he stated.
Police and family are not sure what Mr. Brown was doing on the road at the time, but witnesses have said he seemed disoriented in the hours before he was hit.
Victoria Police Detective Senior Sergeant Chris Alexander said it was a “cowardly and heartless act” to leave someone in the road after hitting them.
Detectives from the Major Collision Investigation Unit are investigating the hit-and-run.
The driver of the silver Holden Rodeo that hit Mr. Brown was also towing a trailer with cut tree branches. They abandoned their vehicle, but it was not registered and the plates were incorrect
The 27-year-old young man who loved playing video games, chess and listening to music, was abandoned in the middle of the road.
The abandoned Holden Rodeo, which was towing a trailer with severed tree branches at the time of the hit-and-run, has been seized by police and will be forensically examined.
It is understood the vehicle was unregistered and the number plates did not match the vehicle.
Police are not sure if the driver fled on foot or was picked up by another car after abandoning the ute.
Police are urging everyone who lives or was in the area between 3.30am and 3.50am on Sunday. to check your CCTV and dash cam
Anyone is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.