Eden man Trevor Fleet was struck by a vehicle on August 31 at 12:16pm at Newtown Road near the intersection of the Princes Highway in Bega. Police believe Mr Fleet and a woman had pulled over to the side of the road and had a face-to-face argument before the alleged offender returned to her vehicle and reversed into him. Mr Fleet fell, sustained serious injuries and died in hospital the next day.
Four weeks on, NSW Police have established Strike Force Dalore to investigate and are looking for a woman in her 30s or 40s. The alleged offender remains in the community, according to Detective Inspector Justin Marks, crime manager at South Coast Police District.
"The offender remains in the community and knows what has occurred," Detective Marks said. "I'm hoping the offender has a conscience. I'm hoping the offender comes forward and is … given the opportunity to provide her version of events."
Police believe the meeting between the two was not planned. Detective Marks said Mr Fleet's partner was in their vehicle at the time and is still "traumatised" from the incident. "Trevor was a husband, a loving parent, a family member and a friend to many," he said. "What we're looking at is an elderly male who was well respected in the community that has died unnecessarily."
Investigators are urging the public's help to locate a Caucasian woman of "solid build", about five-and-a-half feet tall, with a round face and blonde hair. She was wearing navy blue work pants and a dark long-sleeve jumper. She was driving a large silver SUV, believed to be a Holden brand, with NSW black and white number plates and a bull bar.
"Investigators believe that other motorists driving past at the time may have witnessed Mr Fleet being hit by this vehicle," Detective Marks said. "Unless that person was travelling through Bega to travel south or north, that person had to be in Bega for a reason. So we're assuming that that person is tied to the community. No piece of information is too small, and what may seem as insignificant could prove vital to this investigation."