Police are urging a hit-and-run driver who killed a 78-year-old man in Melbourne's west last night to turn themselves in, before they are found through CCTV footage from the area.
Investigators believe Anthanasious Frangis was hit by a red hatchback, travelling east along Main Road East in St Albans shortly after 9:00pm.
A passer-by called for an ambulance but Mr Frangis died at the scene, near the corner of Erica Avenue.
This morning, a woman who said she was the dead man's sister came to the scene, accompanied by a younger man.
"He was on his way home from work," the man said, adding that the 78-year-old was "crossing the road" when he was struck.
Mr Frangis was a local identity in the area who was involved in the St Albans soccer club.
The family was too distraught to join police in an appeal for witnesses, Detective Senior Sergeant Brad McArthur said.
"They're very frustrated that the person driving the car hasn't made themselves known and they're very keen for that person to come forward to ease the pain," he said.
He said the incident was captured on CCTV but the quality was not good enough to trace the driver.
The car is believed to be a Honda or Toyota from a year between 2007 and 2013.
'Do the right thing and come forward'
The Major Collision Investigation Unit's Inspector Tony Long said there was "no doubt" the driver would have known they had hit the man.
"Investigators believe that the driver of the vehicle would have had no doubt at all that they would have struck that pedestrian and there would be significant damage to their vehicle," he said.
The car would probably have damage to the central bonnet and windscreen, police said.
He said there was a "significant amount" of CCTV footage available from local businesses and it was only a matter of time before they found the driver responsible.
"We'd urge that person to think very hard about the incident that's occurred tonight and do the right thing and come forward," he said.
Police have released images of two other black cars which were in the area at the time and are keen to speak to those drivers.
"We think they actually had to apply their brakes to avoid the car that hit the victim or drive around the car that hit the victim," Detective Senior Sergeant McArthur said.
The penalty for not stopping at the scene of the accident is a maximum of 10 years in prison.
Anyone with dashcam footage or information has been urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
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