Christchurch Police are appealing to the public for information relating to a hit and run on Saturday on Marlborough St, Phillipstown.
33-year-old David Tata was struck down just after 7pm last night on Marlborough Street in Phillipstown.
Police are seeking anyone who may have seen the crash or observed a vehicle driving erratically in the area at the time.
Due to the impact from the crash the offending vehicle should have damage to the front left head light area.
Anyone who can assist is asked to contact Police on 105 and quote file number 200714/4658 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
David had just been dropped off and was walking across the road to visit his brother when he was hit by a speeding car.
David’s brother Jason said he was expecting his brother, but nothing could prepare him for what happened.
CCTV footage of David Tata crossing Marlborough Street just seconds before hit by a car.
“My brother stumbled into the house, and sort of just flopped on the lounge floor.”
“I thought he was drunk and then my wife looked at me with a shocked look on her face and said “he’s bleeding he’s bleeding” and then I looked over and said oh s***t.”
“We tried to wake him because he was knocked out.”
Marlborough Street in Phillipstown after the alleged hit and run
David woke up on the floor and started saying “he hit me, he hit me.”
“I thought someone must have ‘jumped him’ so we ran outside to see what was going on, but there was nothing obvious.”
Neighbours were standing outside on the opposite side of the road and yelled out saying they heard a loud bang and a scream.
Jason called 111, and while on the phone, his neighbour showed him the shocking footage of his brother being hit by a car right outside his house.
“It was horrific to watch.”
Chris Lynch Media has chosen not to show the video due to its highly graphic nature.
Jason says the offending car returned to the scene and parked up on the other side of the road.
“I spotted the car, and said to my neighbour, that’s the car, that’s the car right there.”
Jason said it looked like the driver was in shock – “when I approached him, he took off.”
David suffered deep cuts to his face and has to wear a neck brace for the next two to three weeks.
33-year-old David Tata was hit by a car last night. The offender has not been caught.
It couldn’t have come at a worse time for David, as the hit and run happened on the first day of his new job working in traffic management.
He’d just moved his family from Nelson to Christchurch.
“The medical staff at the hospital were amazing, and really looked after me.”
David says he forgives the driver who hit him, but “he’s got to put himself in my shoes.”
All he wants is an apology. “Whether he was high on drugs, on his phone, just come to me, shake my hand and all is well, because he’s honestly scarred me for life.”
