A REWARD of £11,000 has been offered as police appeal for help to solve a fatal hit-and-run collision a year after it happened.

Officers have today renewed their appeal for information following the death of Christopher Colegate in Poole on Friday, December 13, 2013.

Police were called at 7.25pm that day to the collision at the junction of Darby’s Lane and Heath Avenue in Oakdale, where Christopher, 69, had been left seriously injured in the road.

He had been struck by a vehicle that did not stop at the scene. Christopher suffered significant injuries and died in Poole Hospital.

Police described the victim as “frail” – he walked with a distinctive stoop and used two walking sticks to aid his mobility.

Bournemouth Echo:

Following the incident, officers revealed they believed a light-coloured VW Golf Mark 4 was involved in the collision.

CCTV footage showing the car travelling along Heath Avenue toward Wimborne Road at the time of the collision was also issued.

The vehicle involved was made between 1998 and 2005, was either three-door or five-door, and may have suffered damage in the collision.

Numerous appeals throughout the last year have failed to identify the vehicle or driver involved.

Inspector Matt Butler, of the Dorset Police Traffic Unit, said: “We still do not know exactly what happened to Mr Colegate.

“He was found lying in the road in Heath Avenue by a passer-by.

“An ambulance was called and Mr Colegate told those helping him that he had been struck by a car. Sadly his condition deteriorated and he died.

“We know that a number of cars were in the area at the time of the collision. Some we have traced but we have not been able to identify a Mark 4 VW Golf that travelled along Heath Avenue toward Wimborne Road at around the time of the incident.

“We have been in regular contact with Mr Colegate’s family and the anniversary of the incident is a very difficult time for them.

“I urge anyone who can shed any light on the circumstances surrounding Mr Colegate’s death to please call Dorset Police. Your information, no matter how small, would go a long way to help them bring closure to this tragic incident.”

A reward of £10,000 is being offered by Dorset Police and the Crimestoppers charity for information leading to the conviction of the driver involved in the collision.

Oakdale Conservative Club, where Mr Colegate was a regular, has also offered an additional reward of £1,000 for information leading to the arrest and charge of an offender.

Witnesses and anyone with information should call Dorset Police in confidence on 101 quoting incident number 06:113. Alternatively, call the free and anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111 where mobile phone tariffs may apply.