Retirees shaken by death

Residents of a Whanganui rest home are shaken after a elderly woman was killed in a presumed hit-and-run just a block away.

Her body was found just before 2am yesterday morning near the intersection of Anzac Parade and Helmore St, having suffered injuries consistent with a vehicle collision.

Masonic Court Rest Home facility manager Victoria Morris said staff and residents were shaken to learn the woman’s body was found only a block away. But Morris confirmed all of the rest home’s residents were accounted for and safe.

‘‘They’re pretty concerned. They just want to know what’s going on and hoping it wasn’t somebody they knew.’’

Detective Sergeant Craig Gorringe said police had undertaken area searches, but no vehicle had yet been found.

Anzac Parade had been closed between Jones and Jellicoe streets, but was reopened about noon after police finished their scene examinations.

Half the block between Young and Helmore streets was taped off, and the search area extended across the street and into a large section of the riverside park.

Gorringe urged those involved to ‘‘do the right thing’’ and speak to police as soon as possible.

Anzac Parade resident Frank Bezemer found out about the death when he took his rubbish out at 7am yesterday and saw police cars and the cordon.

So many people sped down the street, it had been only a matter of time before something like this happened, he said. ‘‘I work from home and my office looks out on the street. I see dozens of cars a day that are going way too fast.’’

Grant Hartell, another resident of the street, said Anzac Parade doubled as State Highway 4.

‘‘It’s a state highway so people disregard the 50kmh [speed limit].’’