The wife of a beloved father of three who was killed in a hit and run in Melbourne over the weekend has issued a heartbreaking plea to the driver to give her family answers.
Police are still on the hunt for the driver of a black BMW sedan after they allegedly struck 44-year-old Darrin Pearce while he was walking home in Berwick shortly after midnight on Saturday.
His wife Kati Pearce – who had a head start on the walk home – grew concerned when Mr Pearce didn’t walk through the door of their home shortly after her.
By this time Mr Pearce had already been struck by the car and was lying critically injured on the kerbside of the Princes Highway.
“We want to know what happened,” Ms Pearce told reporters on Saturday.
“Someone will know what happened and we want to hear from them.”
Mr Pierce leaves behind three children – daughter Tayla, 17, and sons Hayden, 15, and Jordan, 4.
“He thinks about everyone else and himself later,” Ms Pearce said.
“He always said the thing that comes first is my kids. That‘s why I loved him.”
She told reporters that a couple of 18-year-old girls had been the first to come to her husband’s aid when their rideshare car drove past the scene.
“Thank you so much for helping him,” Ms Pearce said.
Police said the car they were looking for was likely a black BMW sedan that would have extensive damage to the passenger front wheel arch and passenger front lights.
Now Ms Pearce faces raising three children on her own while dealing with the devastating loss of her husband.
“I just live here not long, not very good English, don’t know anything, and I have a four-year-old son and two kids here with me,” she said.
Witnesses and anyone with dashcam footage is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a report at crimestoppersvic.com.au.