Police appeal for answers after fatal collision in Mount Gambier

Hit And Run Pic 1  TBW Newsgroup
FATAL: Lake Terrace East was closed for several hours on Friday after a fatal incident occurred just after 12am. Picture: MOLLY TAYLOR
Hit And Run Pic 1 TBW Newsgroup
FATAL: Lake Terrace East was closed for several hours on Friday after a fatal incident occurred just after 12am. Picture: MOLLY TAYLOR

MAJOR Crash Investigators will make the final determination on the fatal road incident in Mount Gambier’s east in the early hours of Friday morning.

Just after midnight, emergency services responded to an incident on Lake Terrace East, finding a 51-year-old Mount Gambier man deceased after being struck by a vehicle.

Early reports revealed the man had been lying on the roadway before the incident, with forensic investigators deeming the incident not suspicious.

Limestone Coast police operations Inspector Campbell Hill said police were not attributing any blame as it was still early in the investigation.

“There is certainly nothing which sways it in any direction at the moment,” he said.

“There are no suspicious circumstances in relation to it at this point.

“Investigation is still ongoing and it is being treated as a collision-related matter.”

In a press conference on Friday, Insp Hill said officers had spoken to witnesses and drivers who were in the area.

“We are appealing to anyone who was in the Lake Terrace East area at the time the incident took place and whether they have witnessed anything relevant,” he said.

“We are trying to gather as much information as we can to piece things together and work out what exactly happened.”

Insp Hill said the matter highlighted the vulnerability of pedestrians on the road.

“Pedestrians also have a role to play in road safety,” he said.

“When we look at a pedestrian-related death we need to look at the circumstances of how the deceased was on the road in the first place and what the traffic conditions were at the time.”

Insp Hill encouraged residents with any information relating to the incident, including dash-cam, security camera or mobile phone footage, to contact police or upload it through the uWitnessIt webpage.

“Certainly from our point of view any information would help us piece together the circumstances,” he said.

Anyone with any information can also contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report online at www.crimestopperssa.com.au.