Spain police try to trace hit-and-run driver who killed Scot

An online appeal by Spanish police to trace the driver of a car involved in a hit and run incident which claimed the life of an Edinburgh grandfather has been inundated with hundreds of telephone calls and e-mails.

Robert Sneddon died on Sunday after he was struck by a white Land Rover while crossing the road in Guardamar del Segura, Alicante.

The driver of the vehicle fled the scene, leaving Mr Sneddon to die. The damaged car was later recovered by authorities who found its number plate – SK13 MWM – had been registered in Edinburgh in spring 2013. However, it is understood the vehicle was sold in January this year and a new number plate was registered but was not being used on the vehicle.

The Guardia Civil is currently working its way through tip-offs in an attempt to trace its owner and who was in the car at the time Mr Sneddon was killed.

The 61-year-old’s son, who has flown out to Alicante but did not wish to be named, said: “We’ve been told that the police are really close and the people who left the scene shouldn’t have been there in the first place. There’s a witness who’s went into a police station today and who we believe knows is involved.”

With an emotive appeal for information by Mr Sneddon’s daughter, Mandy, reaching more than half a million people on social media, she renewed her call for the driver to come forward.

In a direct address to the individual responsible, she said: “You’ll have seen photos of my dad now before the accident, would you like me to have the after photos released? What exactly is it going to take before you come forward?

“People won’t hide you forever. People talk, your friends have already started. How do I know? Because I am a human being. Can I say the same for you now? No.”

It is understood there were several passengers in the Land Rover at the time of the incident.

Spanish police are working with authorities in Britain and Interpol as part of their investigation. According to a social media site administered by Spanish traffic police, fingerprints have been recovered from the Land Rover.

Mr Sneddon was brought up in Edinburgh and worked as a psychiatric nurse in the city, but relocated to Spain around 15 years ago. He had been walking home from a pub at around 10.40pm on Sunday when he was struck on the N332 coastal road.