Originally published October 22, 2005
POLICE have described the driver of a hit and run vehicle who left a young Red Cliffs man fighting for his life in hospital as a coward.
Police said the victim, a 21-year-old man from Red Cliffs, was left for dead in 9th Street between San Mateo and Magnolia Avenues in the early hours of yesterday morning.
He was located in the middle of the road by a security guard who contacted Mildura Police about 3.15am before an ambulance transported him to Mildura Base Hospital with serious head injuries.
The victim was flown to Royal Adelaide Hospital yesterday afternoon in a critical condition.
Police have appealed for the driver of the vehicle, as well as any other witnesses, to contact them.
The victim is understood to have been walking to a friend’s place from the central businesses district when he was struck by a car.
An Oasis Security employee on patrol found the injured man and contacted authorities while rendering what assistance he could.
Police cordoned off a large area around the accident scene, between 9th and 10th Streets and Lemon Avenue and Victor Avenue, on the eastern side of San Mateo Avenue.
Mildura Police secured the area until members of the Major Collision Unit arrived from Melbourne.
They arrived at the scene about 10.15am and, along with other Mildura Police, inspected the area for several hours.
A large yellow tarp was placed at the site of impact to protect evidence from possible rain, but was removed while the Major Collision squad examined and mapped out the crime scene.
The vehicle in which the security officer was travelling remained at the scene throughout yesterday’s investigation, while a station wagon and trailer also remained at the side of the road nearby. Police said neither vehicle were part of the investigation.
Acting Sergeant John Dettmann from the Major Collision Unit said the accident was a “cowardly act”.
He said members of the unit had measured the scene and collected what evidence they could and interviewed “a couple” of witnesses.
Sgt Dettmann said the incident was being treated as a hit-run, however the possibility of an assault before the accident was one line of investigation.
“(However), there is no evidence of a prior altercation before the accident,” he said.
He said evidence collected at the scene would be forensically tested.
Sgt Dettmann said police had established that the victim had left O’Malley’s Irish Tavern about 3am, travelling towards a premises in 13th Street where he was intending to spend the night with friends.
“It is unclear whether he left the tavern accompanied, with O’Malley’s being the last place he was seen by his friends,” he said.
“Witnesses have confirmed there was the sound of a car accelerating in the early hours of yesterday morning, which indicates that there was a car involved in the incident.
“There is no evidence of car skid marks, or a car mounting the kerb.”
Sgt. Dettmann said it was unsure if damage would be evident on the car involved in the accident, but urged anyone who may notice unexplained damage on a friend, relative or neighbour’s vehicle to contact them.
He said police believe the driver of the vehicle would have been aware that they had struck a person.
“There is no way that the driver could not have known that,” he said.
Sgt Dettmann said street lights were positioned on either side of where the victim was found, and the victim had fallen where he was struck, unable to move.
“There is no evidence of the victim being dragged, as neither both the scene and the victim’s appearance suggests this,” he said.
“I am appealing on the driver’s conscience to come forward.
“This is a cowardly act, and it would take a coward to leave someone for dead after hitting them.
“You can hit a piece of metal, a cardboard box or a bird, and hear your car hit it — how could you not have heard a person being hit?
“We will eventually make a breakthrough.
“FOOTNOTE: The victim Luke Ryan Shaw died in hospital on the afternoon of October 22, 2005.
In September 2008, Coroner Peter White determined it was probable that Luke fell from a vehicle or object that was either stationary or moving at a slow speed, but could not determine how the fall was instituted.
A year later a Supreme Court jury found that an unknown driver contributed to Luke’s death, awarding his mother $250,000 in her civil action against the Transport Accident Commission.
In October 2015, Victoria Police announced an unprecedented $100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for Luke’s death.
The circumstances surrounding Luke’s death, or anyone responsible, have not been determined.
Anyone with information about Luke’s death should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
