A gas station attendant who was run down by a fleeing vehicle last Friday has succumbed to his injuries, police confirmed on Thursday.
Police said the victim died in hospital the day he was injured, but his death had not been announced for investigative reasons.
Police are still looking for the driver of a gold-coloured sedan suspected of filling his car without paying, before running down the gas station attendant as he fled.
Police were called to a Petro Canada gas station near Truscott Drive and Southdown Road in Mississauga shortly before 5 a.m. on Friday May 20. They arrived to find the 62-year-old gas station attendant lying injured on the road.
According to police, the victim had been attempting to confront a motorist he suspected of trying to flee without paying when he was struck.
The service station employee was rushed to a nearby hospital, and subsequently transferred to a Toronto trauma centre.
Police have identified the victim as Hashem Atifeh Rad.
"He is a Mississauga resident. He does have family, a large family," said Peel Regional Police Const. George Tudos.
Investigators are appealing for any information about the suspect -- described as male, black between 20- and 30-years-old -- or the gold coloured 4-door sedan he was last seen driving eastbound on the QEW in Mississauga.
Police believe the vehicle may have been damaged in the incident.
Peel Regional Police said the suspect had covered both of his vehicle's licence plates with paper in an apparent attempt to escape from the gas theft unidentified. They said nearby cameras caught some of the action.
There were surveillance cameras outside the gas station, but police say they were unable to find any footage of the incident.
Police say anyone who saw the vehicle leave the scene, or someone later pulling something off of their licence plates, should contact police.
Anyone who witnessed the events prior to, during, or immediately after the incident is asked to contact the Peel Region Major Collision Bureau at (905) 453-2121, ext. 3710. Alternately, anonymous tips can be phoned in to Crimestoppers at at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), or submitted electronically.
With a report by CTV Toronto's Tamara Cherry
