Tributes flow for Melbourne man killed when car mounted footpath

The family of a pedestrian killed when an out-of-control car mounted the footpath and struck him in Melbourne say it was a “senseless act”.

John Bato, 63, is being remembered as a compassionate man who loved his dog and fishing.

He was a son, an uncle and to his brother Bill, a best mate.

“He didn’t deserve that, as a normal pedestrian, a normal pedestrian, and getting killed,” Bill said.

He was on his regular morning walk when a hoon mounted the footpath, striking the Mill Park man just as he had crossed Dalton Road in Epping.

“I can’t believe it can happen, a person walking on the footpath, taking a stroll, struck by a driver out of control,” Bill said.

A witness called police just moments before the deadly crash.

“Those couple of minutes ruined our life forever. Forever,” Bill said.

“And it’s so sad. So sad that he disappears this way. It’s ridiculous. I’m still coming to terms.”

John worked as a security guard at Parliament House and as a butcher.

Now retired, he looked after his elderly mother.

His sister-in-law Frances Bato said his mother was “crushed”.

“We’re all crushed. John was her main carer, so we lost a carer, she really loved him,” she said.

The driver narrowly missed other pedestrians.

Those witnesses performed CPR and tied to help John, but he couldn’t be saved.

His family say they’re grateful he didn’t die alone.

The 27-year-old driver was seriously injured and remained at the Royal Melbourne Hospital under arrest today. No charges had been laid.