Homicide investigation into Waihī pedestrian's death
The death of a pedestrian in a Waikato town is being investigated as a homicide.
It was about 1am on Saturday when people in Waihī's George Street heard a loud bang.
Two went outside to investigate what they thought was a crash, and also found a body on the road.
A 28-year-old man, who had been walking down the street, died in the collision, Detective Senior Sergeant Stephen Ambler said.
"[The driver] didn't initially stop. They crashed into a fence a little but further up the road. It's no more than 100 metres from where the man was struck," he said.
The suspect driver and the man who died knew each other, Ambler said, and a homicide investigation has been launched.
Neither person lived in Waihī, and the driver is helping police with their inquiries.
Police are looking for witnesses, sightings of an SS Commodore, and also talking to people at a nearby "address of interest".
The incident comes a week after another pedestrian, 36-year-old Supriya Tikaram, was left in critical condition after being hit on Richmond Street, Taupō.
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A hat and a flip flop remained on the road, by yellow scene markers.
In Waihī, Paul Busnac, who is visiting the area, was talking and listening to music when the car crashed right outside the house.
He went out to check: "The car was empty, the door was open, the interior lights were all on."
He pulled out the keys, then noticed someone was lying on the road.
He approached but could tell the man was already dead.
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A 28-year-old man died after being struck on George Street, Waihī, in the early hours of Saturday morning.
The bang also woke up a woman who lives in the street, and said she heard a second car come through soon after.
She went outside to investigate and it was "pretty horrific".
"You hear a bang and you get up in the night ... I didn't expect to find somebody there lying on the road."
Several residents said it wasn't uncommon for cars to speed up and down the street on weekend nights.
However, Ambler didn't think speed was a factor.
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Police and forensics were examining the scene on Saturday morning. Police are appealing for witnesses, and sightings of a bright blue SS Commodore.
Police are seeking sightings of a bright blue, late model SS Commodore in relation to the incident.
They were also speaking to those at a nearby "address of interest", where people had been drinking on Friday evening.
George Street remained cordoned off mid-morning on Saturday, with road blocks at either end and police officers and forensics specialists on the scene.
A hat and a flip flop could be seen on the road beside yellow scene markers.
A post-mortem examination of the victim will start on Sunday morning.
Anyone with information to help police, or sightings of the Commodore, can contact Waihī Police on 07 863 8179 or ring 105.
