James August in Wellington Hospital with Hope August, right, Cam Phillips, left, and his mother Tira August. PHOTO/SUPPLIED
KAREN COLTMAN
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Police inspectors continue their investigation into May’s hit and run incident in Carterton that left Wairarapa logger James August with life-threatening injuries and lying unconscious on State Highway 2.
Officer in charge of investigations Detective Senior Sergeant Barry Bysouth said police believe the driver who hit August knows they hit him and once again is urging them to come forward.
TVNZ programme Police Ten 7 included an item about the near fatal hit and run last week.
The item called for anyone with information about the May 22 incident to come forward.
This call went out to anyone who saw August walking home from Ev’s Bar, Carterton heading north towards the Taratahi Hotel between 12.45am and 1.45am.
He was walking on the footpath at the edge of the road, and at times on the road.
He was hit in a well-lit 50kmh zone.
The Police Ten 7 item said that there would have been damage to the front of the driver’s car.
“We are appealing to people who may know who did this and anyone that has seen a car with fresh damage to its front around this time,” Detective Ben Hurley said.
“We have some vehicles on the CCTV footage that have not yet been eliminated from the investigation and we want everyone that was driving in Carterton at this time to come forward.
“I strongly believe someone knows who did this,” Hurley said.
On the item, police said August’s injuries were life-threatening and he could’ve died.
He was flown to Wellington Hospital in the early hours of Friday morning and spent a few weeks in the intensive car unit in a coma.
His sisters Cam Phillips and Hope August appeared on the programme pleading for the driver to speak up so they could have some closure.
August’s sister Cam Phillips said nobody should ever leave a person with injuries like that.
August is conscious but can’t recall what happened to him at this stage.
Hope August said he was still, “fuzzy about things but his character is coming through again”.
“He is well-liked and has a beautiful and funny character,” she said.
The family feel lucky he is alive but want answers.
James August has five children and is employed by Brolly Logging – a job he loves.
The item can be viewed on the Police Ten 7 Facebook page.
- Anyone with information can contact police by phoning 105 or anonymously on Crimestoppers 0800 555111.
