An elderly Melbourne man has died after being struck by a car driven by his wife in what police have called a “tragic accident”.
The incident occurred in Ash Court in Clayton South in Melbourne’s southeast just before 1pm yesterday.
Neighbours say they found the grief-stricken woman, 73, holding her fatally-injured husband and pleading with him not to die.
It’s understood the man was investigating an unusual noise coming from the vehicle when he was hit. He had apparently been at the wheel of his Nissan X-Trail but got out to check the car and asked his wife to rev the engine. The car was apparently still in gear, lurched forward and hit another property.
One person said the man asked his wife to accelerate, not realising the car was in gear.
The Nissan crashed into another property. PHOTO: Channel Nine
Emergency crews were called and tended to the man, aged 75, but he could not be revived.
Neighbour Andrew Boyadjian told Channel Nine that he heard a thump and a scream and rushed outside . “”I looked at the poor man, he was on the ground and she was kneeling [next to] him and saying very sad things, ‘I killed you my darling, my sweetheart’,” Mr Boyadjian told Channel Nine.
News.com.au reports that she was saying: “Darling please don’t die, please don’t die.”
Mr Boyadjian said the man and has wife had built that house 47 years ago “so they have probably been married nearly 50 years or close”.
“We are very sad and sorry for him.”
Acting Senior Sergeant Janine Saunders said: “It appears at this stage it’s a tragic accident.”
“It’s just a series of unfortunate events,” she said.
“She (the wife) is traumatised,” Acting Sen-Sgt Saunders said.
“It’s just really unfortunate.”
PHOTO: Channel Nine
The man’s wife was assisting police with their inquiries. A report will be prepared for the Coroner.
The family has asked for privacy.
