Christopher Colegate
Police investigating a fatal fail to stop collision in Poole have renewed their appeal for witnesses 12 months after the incident.
Officers were called at 7.25pm on Friday 13 December 2013 to the collision at the junction of Darby’s Lane and Heath Avenue where a pedestrian had been left seriously injured in the road.
Christopher Colegate, 69, from Poole, was tragically struck by a vehicle which failed to stop at the scene. He suffered significant injuries and was taken to Poole Hospital but sadly later died.
Mr Colegate was frail, walked with a distinctive stoop and used two walking sticks to aid his mobility.
Following the incident, officers revealed they believed a light-coloured VW Golf Mark 4 was involved in the collision.
CCTV footage showing the car travelling along Heath Avenue toward Wimborne Road at the time of the collision was also issued.
The vehicle involved was made between 1998 and 2005, either three-door or five-door and may have suffered damage in the collision.
Numerous appeals throughout the last year have failed to identify the vehicle or driver involved.
Inspector Matt Butler, of the Dorset Police Traffic Unit, said: “We still do not know exactly what happened to Mr Colegate.
“He was found lying in the road in Heath Avenue by a passer-by.
“An ambulance was called and Mr Colegate told those helping him that he had been struck by a car. Sadly his condition deteriorated and he died.
“We know that a number of cars were in the area at the time of the collision. Some we have traced but we have not been able to identify a Mark 4 VW Golf that travelled along Heath Avenue toward Wimborne Road at around the time of the incident.
“We have been in regular contact with Mr Colegate’s family and the anniversary of the incident is a very difficult time for them.
“I urge anyone who can shed any light on the circumstances surrounding Mr Colegate’s death to please call Dorset Police. Your information, no matter how small, would go a long way to help them bring closure to this tragic incident.
“If you know anything, then please call us on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.”
A reward of £10,000 is being offered by Dorset Police and the Crimestoppers charity for information leading to the conviction of the driver involved in the collision.
Oakdale Conservative Club, where Mr Colegate was a regular, has also offered an additional reward of £1,000 for information leading to the arrest and charge of an offender.
Witnesses and anyone with information should call Dorset Police in confidence on 101 quoting incident number 06:113. Alternatively, call the free and anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111 where mobile phone tariffs may apply.
