General News
7 April, 2025
Police appeal in Kiata investigation
The police tape fluttering in the breeze on the side of the busy highway is the only reminder of the tragedy that struck the tiny community of Kiata a few days ago when a member of the public died on the Western Highway.
But while police continue to investigate the late-night death in a suspected hit-run incident they have turned to the public for assistance in formally identifying the circumstances surrounding the fatality and locating the driver and/or vehicle they suspect impacted the deceased.
A passerby located human remains between the closed Little Desert Hotel and the Kiata Memorial Hall on the Western Highway just after 8am on April 4.
The police said they believed she may have been struck by a truck or heavy vehicle sometime between 9pm on Thursday, April 2, and 2am on Friday, April 4.
Police said they were unaware of why the deceased was on the road before the impact but were able to identify the time frame of the incident from dash-cam footage provided to police.
The police said on Saturday the deceased was yet to be formally identified but they believed the person was a woman from the region, and the incident was being treated as a possible hit-run.
Police also said the driver of the vehicle may not be aware they impacted the deceased, so it was important that travellers on the stretch of highway between Nhill and Dimboola during Thursday evening and early Friday morning, contact police because information could be vital to their investigation.
The police said they are particularly keen to check any dashcam footage from the public.,
The Western Highway between Dimboola and Nhill was closed most of Friday and roads in the vicinity of Nhill-Jeparit and Dimboola-Rainbow Roads were closed most of Friday too as police investigated the area.
Police said, on Friday, there was no risk to the public and urged locals to refrain from using back roads to access the area while investigations were underway.
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