Rest home manager confirms woman who died due to suspected hit and run was Masonic Village Wanganui resident

Whanganui Police are asking that the person or people involved in a suspected hit and run that killed Fay Butler do the right thing and come forward. Photo / Bevan Conley

The woman who died after a suspected hit and run in Whanganui on Wednesday was a resident at Masonic Village Wanganui.

Masonic Court Rest Home facility manager Victoria Morris confirmed this morning that 79-year-old Fay Butler was an independent flat resident at the village on Masonic Dr.

A letter has been sent to residents of the village.

"This is a tragic blow for our community and our thoughts are with Fay's family and friends at this time," Morris said in the letter.

"Whanganui Police are out in force today searching for the driver of the vehicle. At this stage, police are searching all possible leads."

Police said later on Thursday that: "indications from the initial stages of the investigation show it would have been extremely unlikely for the driver of the vehicle involved not to know a collision had occurred".

Fay's body was discovered near the intersection of Anzac Parade and Helmore St at about 1.55am on Wednesday.

She had suffered injuries consistent with a vehicle collision, but police who searched the area had been unable to locate a vehicle.

Detective Sergeant Craig Gorringe urged the person or people involved to do the right thing and come forward about what had happened.

"We are also seeking any CCTV footage from overnight from businesses or residences on Anzac Parade, along with any sightings of the elderly woman in the Anzac Parade area prior to the time her body was found," he said.

Anybody with information could contact police on 105 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.