The girl's bike at the accident scene.  Credit:Seven News Melbourne Her bike was metres from where she lay.  When he saw her, she wasn't wearing a helmet, Mr Nippard said.  Mr Nippard, who was a St Johns Ambulance cadet as a teenager, told his wife to stop the car and he grabbed the first aid kit and went to her aid. " I didn't know if she was alive or dead," he said. " There was blood everywhere." 

Police on the scene of the collision overnight.  Credit:Courtesy Channel Nine An off-duty nurse, then an off-duty paramedic also stopped and Mr Nippard kept talking to the teenager as the pair worked on the girl. " I told her to 'keep breathing, keep going, stay with us darling'," he said.  The corner of Bell Street and Sussex Street in Coburg on Monday morning.  Credit:Justin McManus Mrs Nippard tried to comfort the girls' two friends, who were in shock. 

"They were so scared," she said.  The teenager remains in a critical condition in the Royal Children's Hospital.  Assistant Commissioner Doug Fryer said she might not survive. " We've got a 13-year-old girl who is absolutely fighting for life.  She may not pull through," he said. " Every Victorian can put themselves in the hearts and minds of parents ... they'll be devastated."  Mr Fryer said the dark-coloured, smaller BMW would have damage to its front windscreen, front left bumper and left mirror. 

The driver stopped momentarily, it's believed someone may have got out of the car, before getting back in and leaving.  Mr Fryer said he has no doubt the driver realised what had occurred. " What sort of person hits a young girl and then doesn't render assistance?"  Mr Fryer said.  He urged the driver to hand themselves in, likewise friends or family to contact police or anyone who notices a BMW with similar damage.  Head of the Major Collision Investigation Unit, Detective Inspector Stuart McGregor, told 3AW a woman got out of the car but he was, at this stage, unsure as to whether she was the driver. 

He said the girl's parents were keeping a bedside vigil in hospital.  Police are collating CCTV footage from nearby homes and businesses. ' I saw the bike on the footpath' Both Sussex and Bell are busy, noisy streets and several residents who live within a stone's throw of where the hit-run occurred and were home Sunday night were totally unaware anything out of the ordinary occurred.  Many woke and went about their normal routine. 

On Monday morning people were heading to work, going out to breakfast, mowing their lawns, just metres from the scene of the tragedy – many completely unaware of what had happened.  Others witnessed the aftermath in the moments after the hit-run.  Chef John Elrahi was driving to his Sussex Street home from work on Sunday night when he saw the crumpled bike on the footpath. " I have four kids at home aged from six to 13," he said. " They ride their bikes. 

"I thought, 'Oh my God'."  Mark Sanders, an IT manager, who lives about 100 metres away from where the hit-and-run happened said he woke to hear the news on Monday morning. " It's very distressing that these sort of things can happen and worse that somebody can just drive off without offering help," he said.  His neighbour Charlie Manango has two daughters, both teenagers.  The food importer said he went to see what was happening when he went to put the bins out about 8.30pm on Sunday night and saw police lights flashing at intersection about 100 metres from his Rose Street home. 

"I saw the bike on the footpath, I saw the blood stain on the road," he said.  Mr Manango said he saw a group of about half a dozen kids on bikes of a similar size to that of the victim.  He said a group of mothers was trying to comfort them. " They looked shocked," he said. " They looked like they were telling things to the kids to take their minds off it. 

The father of two said said his first thoughts were for his own daughters. " It makes you feel like you don't know if your kids are going to come home OK," he said. " You could walk across the street to the milkbar and something could happen. " I'm very upset."  Mr Manango said neighbours had been raising concerns about dangerous driving and congestion in the area for years, especially as people took rat runs to avoid congestion on Bell Street. 

"When I bought this house 20 years ago … Bell Street was quiet. " Now this street, Rose Street, is like Bourke Street."  Several others raised concerns about traffic in the street.  Lisa McKay-Brown was walking with her 11-year-old daughter to their Sussex Street home past the corner with Bell Street on Monday morning. " It hit home," she said. 

"This is a busy area, with trucks and cars going past all hours. " Especially in Sussex Street, you hear cars speeding up and down here all night."  Anyone with information or who may have witnessed the collision should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.