Harrowing footage has emerged of an elderly tourist’s final moments before he was left for dead in a suspected hit-and-run as his heartbroken granddaughter urged the driver to hand himself in.
Police are still searching for the driver of a blue sedan who struck Nepalese national Damodor Shrestha, 79, on Abell Road in Melonba, near Mount Druitt in Sydney’s west, about 11.20pm on Sunday.
The grandfather was caught on CCTV shortly before saying goodbye to his relatives while out for a run before being allegedly run over from behind and going unnoticed by several passing cars.
Two motorists later found him lying on the road and alerted the emergency services, who rushed to the scene but were unable to save him.
His devastated family issued an emotional plea on Tuesday.
“Please… my grandmother can barely sleep, she can barely eat, she is in distress,” said her granddaughter Surabhi Shrestha. Nine news.
Ms Shrestha only found out what had happened when she went out to look for her grandfather and saw police gathered around his body.
The devastated granddaughter of Damodor Shrestha (pictured left) made an emotional appeal to the suspected driver to hand himself in.
The grandfather (center of photo) was allegedly hit from behind by a blue sedan while walking.
“When I described him and showed them (police) his picture, I think they knew immediately it was him,” she said.
‘My grandmother was next to me, she doesn’t understand English… so she asked me what was going on.’
Mrs Shrestha had to break the heartbreaking news to her grandmother.
“I think those were the hardest words of my life. I don’t know how I managed to say those words to him.”
The elderly couple from Nepal were staying at Ms Shrestha’s family home.
Mr Shrestha had attended a dinner to celebrate his daughter’s 25th wedding anniversary just hours before he died.
Chilling CCTV footage captured the last time he was seen alive as he went out for an evening stroll.
Police have released images of the sedan (pictured) that allegedly collided with Shrestha and believe the vehicle is a blue Toyota Camry sedan.
Police collected footage from security cameras installed at neighbouring properties on Tuesday.
Police have released images of the sedan that allegedly collided with Mr Shrestha and believe the vehicle is a blue Toyota Camry sedan.
A New South Wales Police spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia that investigations are ongoing.
Anyone with information about the crash is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
