The wife of a man killed in a suspected hit-and-run in Melbourne's south-east has urged the person who was driving to come forward to police.
Darrin Pierce was found with life-threatening injuries in a gutter on the side of the Princes Highway, between Neill and Peel streets in Berwick, about 12:15am on Saturday.
The 44-year-old later died in hospital.
"We want to know what happened," his wife, Kati Pierce, said.
Mr Pierce is the father of three children.
His youngest, Jordan, is only four years old.
"I will tell him to be kind like Dad because I'm very proud of him," Ms Pierce said.
"He thinks about everyone else, and himself later."
She said Mr Pierce's kindness and love for his family was what drew her to him after they met in a coffee shop six years ago.
Mr Pierce had two children from a previous relationship — Taylor and Hayden.
"He always said the thing that comes first is my kids. That's why I loved him," Ms Pierce said.
Teen passengers in ride-share vehicle came to victim's aid
She said she and her husband had been at the pub earlier in the night.
Ms Pierce said she started walking home before her husband.
She became concerned when he didn't walk in the front door and asked Hayden to call his dad and ask where he was.
But it was a passenger in a ride-share vehicle who spotted Mr Pierce and raised the alarm.
Ms Pierce said she had heard that a couple of 18-year-old girls had come to her husband's aid.
"Thank you so much for helping him," she said.
Police investigations into what happened to Mr Pierce are ongoing.
They believe Mr Pierce might have been hit by a black BMW sedan.
Police said the sedan would have extensive damage to the passenger front wheel arch, as well as passenger front lights.
Police appeal for information
Ms Pierce said the driver should have stopped to help.
"You should stop and have a look," she said.
She cried at the thought of her family's first Christmas and New Year without Mr Pierce, who had been planning a few surprises for the children.
"December is my birthday," Ms Pierce said.
"We planned to celebrate together, and he's not here with me. It is very hard."
Ms Pierce said her husband had done everything for her — even carrying shopping bags and taking the trolley for her when they were out getting groceries.
"I am just live here not long, not very good English, don't know anything, and I have a four-year-old son and two kids here with me," she said.
"I don't know how to get the good life for them."
"All the business and bank and everything, I don't know about that.
"I know it's going to be very, very hard for me."
Anyone with information or dash cam footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
