A rising Australian soccer player was killed in a hit-and-run incident in Sydney’s southwest suburb of Milperra yesterday.
Police have been on the lookout for the driver of the utility vehicle involved but are yet to confirm who was responsible for the death of the young woman.
Family and friends said 19-year-old Natasha Gadd was “fun-loving” but also hardworking and focused.
According to The Daily Telegraph, the talented teen had just been selected as a goal-keeper in St George Football Club’s premier league side and was working two jobs to save enough money to travel to Thailand.
The deceased teen’s mother Charmain Gadd broke down as she described Natasha as a “gentle giant” and pleaded for the driver to come forward.
“So much potential is now taken away because someone was doing the wrong thing and hit her,” she told the newspaper.
“My baby is never coming home.”
Gadd was hit on Henry Lawson Drive, Milperra, just after 4.30am after getting off a bus from the city, where she had been celebrating a friend’s birthday.
The young woman was walking the short distance home with friends, who witnessed the horrific incident as the ute hit Natasha and did not stop.
Police told multiple news sources that it was believed Gadd was struck by an older model white Toyota utility with a refrigeration unit in the rear tray.
Authorities also confirmed the vehicle may “have lost a side mirror as a result of the collision”.
“We have appealed for witnesses to come forward after a pedestrian was killed and the vehicle involved failed to stop,” a police spokesman said.
“The vehicle left the crash scene and was last seen travelling south on Henry Lawson Drive.”
This article originally appeared on WHO
