Pensioner, 81, seriously injured after broad daylight Johnstone hit-and-run

A pensioner was hospitalised following a hit-and-run in Johnstone.

The 81-year-old victim was knocked down by the motorist as he attempted to cross on Main Street near its junction with Kings Road in the town around 1.30pm on Wednesday afternoon.

Police say the driver of the vehicle – a black Vauxhall Astra – fled the incident, leaving the elderly man seriously injured by the roadside.

Emergency service crews rushed to the scene to tend to the stricken pedestrian and gather information.

He was then transported to the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley for treatment and staff describe his condition as serious.

The driver is still at large and road policing officers have launched an investigation in a bid to trace who was responsible. They say the vehicle involved in the incident was later found but nobody was within it.

Sergeant Chris Hoggans said: “The Vauxhall Astra failed to stop and was found a short time later in Hartfield Road. There was no one within.

“The vehicle is undergoing examination and extensive enquiries are ongoing to trace the occupants.

“I urge anyone who witnessed the crash or a black Vauxhall Astra being driven in the Elderslie area on Wednesday afternoon to contact us as soon as possible. I would also ask drivers with dash-cam or anyone with personal footage to check to see if it holds anything relevant and please get in touch.

“If you have any information that may assist us please contact 101 quoting incident number 1733 of May 15.”

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