A young Australian model has died after she was run over in a car park while leaving a party.
Elise Hodder, 24, was with a group of friends at a party in Sir Zelman Cowen Park in Kooyong in inner-east Melbourne, when she was struck by the vehicle at about 1.10am on Sunday.
The alleged incident was witnessed by police officers who were attending the park due to several triple-0 calls regarding noise complaints.
It’s alleged that Connor Mathiasson, 23, from Sunbury, attempted to reverse out of the car park when he struck three pedestrians.
Ms Hodder was trapped under the car and died at the scene.
Another female pedestrian, 26, was rushed to Alfred Hospital, where she underwent emergency surgery to reconstruct both her ankles. The third pedestrian struck was uninjured.
Mathiasson has been charged with culpable driving causing death, dangerous driving causing death, negligently causing serious injury and unlicenced driving.
He was allegedly behind the wheel without a valid licence, which expired in July and underwent a preliminary breath test which returned a positive result of 0.178- more than three times the legal limit.
Elise Hodder (pictured) was with a group of friends at a party in Sir Zelman Cowen Park when she was hit by a car about 1.10am on Sunday
Ms Hodder was trapped under the car and died at the scene in Melbourne’s inner-east
It’s also alleged Mathiasson had cannabis in his system.
Ms Hodder’s heartbroken parents, Pauline and Michael described their daughter as a ‘beautiful soul with a radiance that touched everybody’, the ABC reported.
They were especially ‘proud’ of Ms Hodder for recently achieving a full-page in the August edition of the New York-based fashion publication Vanguard Magazine.
Ms Hodder’s shattered aunt attended the crash scene on Monday to lay flowers at the makeshift memorial.
‘She was a beautiful, tall woman (with) lovely long arms and legs and she would just wrap herself around you and say how are you?,’ Cath Jean told the Herald Sun.
‘We adored her, she was just a beautiful soul.’
Ms Hodder’s parents described their daughter (pictured) as a ‘beautiful soul with a radiance that touched everybody’
Ms Hodder’s agency, FiveTwenty Model Management, described Ms Hodder as ‘a delight to work with’.
‘She was very curious about the industry and gave it her all, always showing up with a bubbly, bright attitude,’ the agency said in a statement.
‘It is with deep sadness to have received this news. Our condolences go out to her family and friends.
‘Her presence and place in our hearts will never be forgotten. Rest in peace beautiful girl.’
Mathiasson’s father told the court that he was unaware of his son’s alleged cannabis addiction but said his mother’s suicide seven years ago took a heavy toll on his mental health.
‘They were very close,’ he told the court.
The father admitted he hadn’t seen his son in-person since Christmas but agreed to supervise him 24-7 if he was to be granted bail.
It’s alleged that Connor Mathiasson, 23, attempted to reverse out of the car park when he struck three pedestrians
Ms Hodder’s agency, FiveTwenty Model Management, described her as ‘a delight to work with’
Mathiasson was remanded in custody on Monday.
The prosecution is expected to oppose bail as he was allegedly driving without a licence while heavily affected by substances at the time of the incident.
A decision regarding his bail is set to be delivered on Tuesday morning.
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