Police are appealing for the public’s help as the search continues for the driver of a stolen car involved in a fatal hit-and-run last week.
On Thursday at about 5.46am on Naenae Rd, a dark grey Mazda 6 sedan fatally struck a pedestrian on Naenae Rd in Lower Hutt.
“The driver of the vehicle involved did not stop and immediately left the scene,” police said. A woman died at the scene.
The car had been stolen from a home in Belmont earlier in the morning, and it was found in Naenae later in the day.
“At this stage police have not yet identified the driver of the vehicle but are confident with our ongoing inquiries and the public’s continual assistance the person responsible will be identified,” Detective Inspector Haley Ryan said today.
“Police have identified two areas of interest. One being Belmont, where the vehicle was stolen between 1am and 3am, and Wainuiomata, where the vehicle was from 3am leading up to the incident at 5.46am.
“Anyone with CCTV footage or sightings of the dark-grey Mazda 6 sedan in those areas at the above times is urged to contact police on 105, quoting file number 231116/3474.”
The victim’s name will be released when police are “able to do so”, Ryan added.
She has previously said the driver will know they hit a person.
“In all likelihood they will be panicking right now,” Ryan said last week. “I urge the driver or any occupant of that vehicle to come forward and speak to us, as we want to understand the events that have led to this tragedy.”
The vehicle drove around the Hutt Valley “erratically” and at speed for several hours before the incident. The car was seen smoking heavily after the collision.
