Woman, 65, left on roadside after Waikato hit and run

Photo / File

A 65-year-old woman was left injured on the side of a road after a hit and run incident in Waikato yesterday.

The woman was found by family members on State Highway 25, Tairua Road, near the Whangamata sewage treatment ponds about 10pm, police said.

She suffered moderate injuries and was flown to Waikato Hospital.

The road was closed for about 4-1/2 hours while the Waikato Serious Crash Unit examined the scene.

The local woman was clipped by a northbound vehicle while she was out for a walk, southbound on Tairua Road, a regular walking route for her, police said.

The incident happened between 8pm and 9pm.

The woman was wearing black three quarter length jogging pants and a pink t-shirt, police said.

The road where the woman was hit is a winding bush-clad route on a hill west of Whangamata which community board deputy chairman Terry Walker says is very popular with walkers, joggers and cyclists despite having few shoulder areas for protection against traffic.

He said the board had been lobbying the Waikato Regional Council and the Transport Agency to develop a cycleway around Wentworth River's Moana Anuanu estuary to incorporate the hill climb, such was its popularity as part of a training circuit.

It was badly in need of lighting as it was also the main route for logging trucks and camper-vans, even though the community board was encouraging other traffic to use a causeway across the river from the town centre.

Police asked anyone who saw the incident or had knowledge of the vehicle involved to contact Whangamata police 07 865 0300, or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.