Sydney man Rhyce Harding, 27, has been identified as the victim of a fatal alleged hit-and-run in NSW.
He was allegedly hit by a ute on Jersey Rd in Blackett, in Sydney’s west, at about 8.45am on Thursday.
Harding was found about 100m from his car. He got out of his car before he was hit by a ute, police said.
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CCTV footage appears to show him clinging to the side of the ute before he fell, and was killed underneath the wheel, 7NEWS understands.
The 39-year-old man behind the wheel allegedly fled the scene, before dumping the ute in South Windsor that evening, and turning himself in at Mount Druitt Police Station at about 6.30am on Friday.
He told police during extensive questioning that he was on his way to work when the alleged road rage incident occurred.
The 39-year-old has since been charged with manslaughter, failing to stop and assist after vehicle impact causing death, negligent driving (occasioning death), and dangerous driving occasioning death.
He was bail refused to appear before Parramatta Local Court on Saturday.
Police believe Harding felt threatened by a car following him, NSW Police Acting Inspector Shane Ranee said on Thursday. “We have information that the same car hit the victim,” Ranee said.
“Apparently, the victim had got out of the vehicle after being threatened by the car following him.
“Words were said, that’s what led us to believe it could have happened because of a road rage incident.
“It’s devastating. I feel bad for the victim’s parents and the victim’s family.”
Harding, who was wearing high-visibility clothes at the time, was treated by paramedics but died at the scene.
He was remembered by his family as “a gentle soul, humble, loyal, selfless and the glue that bound everyone together”. He was employed as a landscaper at the family company.
He was also an amateur kick-boxer at World Gym Marsden Park. The gym remembered the “much-loved member” of the club “for his kindness, humbleness and dedication to his training.”
The gym’s managing director Mark Grech described him as “a good human, a nice, polite, giving person.”
“The day after his fight night, he actually came in and gave a gift to every single staff member who went and watched him on the night.
“Just a genuinely good kid … even though there might be a bit of stigma because he was a kick-boxer, he was definitely not an aggressive type of human, he was just a gentle soul.
“The fact that he was involved in something like that is shocking.”
Anyone with relevant information about the incident is urged to come forward.