North Queensland police have launched a $50,000 appeal for information after an 89-year-old woman suffered life-changing injuries in a "disgusting" hit and run in Townsville.
The woman was hit in the underground car park of the CastleTown shopping centre on October 15 while out with her son.
She spent several months in hospital with serious head injuries.
More than five months later, Acting Sergeant Hayley Garrod from the Townsville Forensic Crash Unit said police had no independent witnesses and were no closer to discovering the driver responsible.
"The person has driven past, stopped, reversed back, knocking the lady to the ground, and then taken off at speed without even going into the shops," Acting Sergeant Garrod said.
The elderly woman now requires full-time care and has no memory of the accident.
"I spoke to her earlier this week, and all she can really tell me is that the person who hit her did a good job of her head," Acting Sergeant Garrod said.
Police have CCTV footage of a dark-coloured ute, believed to be a Holden Commodore, with a distinctive chrome nudge bar that may have since been removed.
Chief Superintendent Craig Hanlon said he was hopeful a new $50,000 reward for information would help lead to the identification and prosecution of the "callous" driver.
"We all feel for the family of the 89-year-old," he said.
"The person has obviously got no remorse because they have not come forward … and we want this person to be held to account for their actions."
Once identified, the driver could face charges including grievous bodily harm or dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.
Chief Superintendent Hanlon said it was "very unusual" for a case like this to go unresolved in the community.
"Townsville's not that big a place, so there's someone out there that would know something," he said.
The reward includes an includes indemnity from prosecution for anyone involved who was not the driver responsible.
