A 68-year-old Melbourne father has died after allegedly being struck by his own Honda CR-V as he tried to stop it being stolen outside his home in Heidelberg West.
Police allege the man had been inside his Blackwood Parade property for about a minute on the night of 1 August 2026 when a 51-year-old woman approached the running vehicle.
Detectives say the man confronted her as she attempted to drive away, sparking a verbal altercation before she allegedly fled in the car and hit him.
He was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries and underwent emergency surgery. He died on Monday night, 31 August.
Detective Acting Inspector Paul Lineham said the man’s family had been left “absolutely traumatised” by the incident and angry that he had allegedly been left on the road with serious injuries.
Police had earlier released CCTV footage showing a woman walking near the property before the alleged theft. The stolen black Honda CR-V, registration AXA625, had not initially been located.
A neighbour, who identified the victim as George, told the ABC that he was well liked in the local community. She and her partner performed CPR after being alerted by screams.
The woman was arrested nearly a week after the incident during a police search of a property in Narvick Crescent, Heidelberg West.
Officers allege a vehicle at the property was driven towards them before crashing into a wall, an unmarked police car and a tree. A 42-year-old man and a 15-year-old girl were arrested in connection with that incident.
The 51-year-old woman was found inside the property and arrested without incident. She was charged on 7 August with dangerous driving causing serious injury, theft of a motor vehicle, failing to stop, failing to render assistance and unlicensed driving.
Victoria Police said investigators would consider whether the charges should be upgraded following the man’s death. The woman is due to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 17 November.
