A man accused of leaving a woman for dead after hitting her with his car on a busy Penrith street remains behind bars.
20-year-old Lasaro Tavai was arrested late on Friday night, just hours after police had released CCTV footage of the incident and appealed for public help.
About 5.30pm on Thursday, emergency services were called to Macquarie Avenue, Penrith, following reports a pedestrian had been struck by a vehicle before it drove away from the scene without stopping.
The woman – named as Yaping Ren, aged in her 60s – was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics; however, she could not be revived.
Tavai was arrested about 10.40pm Friday at a home on Taloma Street, Penrith.
Police allege he was disqualified from driving and behind the wheel of an unregistered car when the incident happened.
He was taken to St Marys Police Station where he was charged with dangerous driving occasioning death-drive manner dangerous, negligent driving (occasioning death), fail to stop and assist after impact cause death, drive motor vehicle during disqualification period, and use unregistered registrable Class A motor vehicle on road.
He did not apply for bail when his case was mentioned in court yesterday and he remains behind bars.
He will appear in court again on Friday, this time in Penrith.
Troy Dodds
Troy Dodds is the Weekender's Managing Editor and Breaking News Reporter. He has more than 20 years experience as a journalist, working with some of Australia's leading media organisations. In 2023, he was named Editor of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.