Police have identified the man whose body was found on the Newell Highway near Jerilderie as 44-year-old Mark Akers. Photo: Murray River Police District.
Police have identified the man whose body was found beside the Newell Highway in the southern Riverina last month and are renewing their appeal for information as an investigation continues.
Mark Akers, 44, set off from Brisbane to Melbourne on 15 June and passed through Goondiwindi in Queensland and Boggabilla and Forbes in NSW before stopping at Jerilderie.
He was last seen alive at a service station on Southey Street in Jerilderie, at about 2:30 am on Monday 16 June.
Mr Akers’ body was found near a stretch of the Newell Highway about 11 km south of Jerilderie, at about 12:35 pm on 17 June.
He had suffered critical injuries, which police believe were caused by being hit by a car.
Police are investigating and are treating his death as suspicious.
An image of the car he was travelling in has been released in an appeal to anyone who may have seen it, especially on the Newell Highway between Jerilderie and Finley during the early hours of Monday 16 June.
Did you see this car on the Newell Highway between Jerilderie and Finley in the early hours of Monday 16 June? Photo: Murray River Police District.
The car is described as a 2021 model 200 series black Toyota LandCruiser with distinctive pink stickers on the windscreen.
His father, John Akers, has urged members of the public with any information to come forward and assist the investigation to find answers for his family.
“Mark was the kindest soul who would do anything for anyone and was sadly taken from us too soon,” he said.
“We are devastated by his passing and miss Mark terribly. We need a swift resolution and peace for Mark.
“I would like to ask the public, or anyone, who perhaps witnessed anything unusual no matter how big or small, please contact the police.”
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Finley Police on (03) 5898 4860, or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
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