Death of Ian Pullen: Anonymous caller asked to appear after a nightly warning

The investigation into the death of Kiwi firefighter Ian Pullen has received a boost after a mysterious caller gave an anonymous tip to detectives investigating the case.

Pullen, 43, died after being hit by a car in the Hunter region of New South Wales two years ago. He was visiting Australia as a firefighter at the start of the region’s wildfire season.

At around 5.35am on September 29, 2018, emergency services were called to Carrington St, Glenridding, after his body was found on the side of the road.

Police investigations revealed that he had been hit and killed by a car, and police said at the time that the driver fled the scene “without helping.”

Now detectives are asking an anonymous caller to come forward after they claimed the involved vehicle returned to the scene and the occupants got out and searched Pullen, who was still alive at the time.

The AA $ 350,000 ($ 376,500) reward, offered by the New South Wales government in 2019 for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible, is still available.

Pullen was the father of three children and died just days before celebrating his twenty-fourth wedding anniversary. Speaking shortly after his tragic death, Pullen’s wife, Vicki, described the hit-and-run driver as “a coward.”

“He was there to keep Singleton safe in case a wildfire broke out and just to save people’s lives,” he told 7 News at the time. At a press conference in 2019 where the reward was announced, his mother Gill Pullen said the past year had been “hell.”

“We cannot achieve closure. We cannot get on with a life,” he said.

“All I have now are the memories of my son growing up.

“I wear his ashes around my neck. This has been there since the day it was cremated. It has never been removed.”