Nepali grandmother dies in suspected hit-and-run collision in Melbourne’s Tarneit

Victoria, Australia, October 23, 2026 — A 63-year-old Nepali woman who had travelled from Nepal to Australia to visit her family has died in a suspected road collision in Tarneit, western Melbourne, with police appealing for witnesses and dashcam footage.

Victoria Police said a passerby found the woman’s body on Leakes Road near the intersection with Derrimut Road shortly after 5:30 am on Tuesday, October 20.

Investigators believe the woman may have been struck by a vehicle while crossing at a pedestrian crossing during her morning walk along Derrimut Road. Police said she was believed to have been walking south along the road before the collision.

Detectives from the Major Collision Investigation Unit have identified a driver and vehicle believed to have been involved. A 32-year-old man from Truganina has provided a statement to police, and the vehicle has been seized for forensic examination.

However, the circumstances surrounding the woman’s death remain under investigation. Police have also said it is not yet clear whether any other vehicles were involved.

Major Collision Investigation Unit Detective Sergeant Mark Willey said investigators were seeking to establish the woman’s movements before the collision.

“The circumstances leading up to this fatal collision remain unclear, and understanding the movements of the pedestrian before she was struck is a key focus,” he said.

Police have urged motorists who were travelling on Derrimut Road near Leakes Road between 5 am and 6 am on October 20 to contact investigators and review any dashcam recordings that may assist the inquiry.

Melbourne Nepali Community West (MNC West) President Bikram Sharma Pangeni told SBS Nepali that the woman had travelled from Nepal to Australia to spend time with her family.

The investigation is ongoing, and police continue to seek information from anyone who may have witnessed the incident or recorded relevant footage.