Vic: Police question truck driver over fatal hit-and-run

AAP General News (Australia)
08-04-2006
Vic: Police question truck driver over fatal hit-and-run

MELBOURNE, Aug 4 AAP - Police are continuing to question a truck driver over a fatal
hit-and-run accident that claimed the life of a Melbourne toddler two days ago.

Two-year-old Rusith Gajasingha died when he ran on to the street and into the path
of a truck as his parents looked on just outside their home in Chandler Road at Noble
Park, in Melbourne's south-east.

Witnesses to the hit-and-run said the driver of the truck stopped, walked back to the
accident scene, examined his truck and drove away. The boy died a short time later.

Acting Senior Sergeant Paul Cripps of the major collision investigation unit said police
were acting on a tip-off when they intercepted a truck in Kirkham Road West, Keysborough,
about 9.30am (AEST) today.

The driver, a 36-year-old man from Narre Warren, was arrested.

"The information we received was specific enough for us to identify the truck and the
driver and where he would be this morning," he told reporters.

"We made a few inquiries and at approximately 9.30 this morning we intercepted a vehicle
in Kirkham Road."

Brett McArthur, a manager at a fibreglass maker on the street where the suspect truck
was stopped by police, said about four police cars rushed to the scene this morning.

"The police pulled the truck over. The pursuit vehicle was there as well as what looked
like a forensic vehicle," Mr McArthur said.

Spray painter Harley Dalais said he saw the driver of a white Isuzu truck being taken
into custody.

"He (the truck driver) was casual, as if nothing had happened," Mr Dalais said.

A Victoria Police spokeswoman said a man was in the custody of major collisions police
and was "assisting with inquiries".

The truck was seized and taken to the police forensics centre in Macleod for examination.

AAP jrd/xlc/ce/jt/bwl

KEYWORD: GAJASINGHA 2ND LEAD (FILE PIX AVAILABLE)

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