UPDATE: A WITNESS chased and shouted at a motorcyclist who was fleeing after a woman was left for dead in a hit-run at a suburban shopping centre.

It’s understood five males on four “monkey” motorbikes were riding through the Carrum Downs Regional Shopping Centre carpark when one hit 34-year-old mother Andrea Lehane on a pedestrian crossing just after 5pm yesterday.

Ms Lehane, who has two young children, suffered head and chest injuries and was flown in a critical condition to The Alfred hospital.

She was still in a critical condition on Thursday afternoon.

Hit run in Carrum Downs CCTV footage of a hit run in Carrum Downs last night.

It’s believed Ms Lehane, whose husband James raced to the scene on being told what had occurred, was on a regular trip to the shops when struck.

Photos posted on Facebook show the 34-year-old smiling and on beach adventures with the couple’s two children – aged just two and three.

Her family was too shocked to speak when contacted.

Off-duty SES member Stephen Wall, who was one of the first people at the scene after the hit-run, saw two or three bikes when he got out of his car.

“I saw a young kid chasing them (the motorcyclists), shouting at them,” he said.

It’s understood the mother was going to the shops when struck. Her children are aged two and three.

Monkey bikes — miniature motorbikes — are illegal on Victorian roads, footpaths and nature strips.

Mr Wall said the woman was unconscious and bleeding from her ear and nose.

He spent 10 minutes cradling her in a blanket as they waited for ambulance crews. She went into multiple rounds of cardiac arrest while she was being treated by paramedics, he said.

Mr Wall then directed traffic away from the scene as the woman’s husband looked on and a crowd gathered.

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Major Collision Investigation Unit Detective Insp Bernie Rankin said there was no doubt the riders knew the damage they had caused.

“It was just callous,’’ he said.

“They certainly saw the event unfold in front of them. Everyone in that group was aware what had happened.

“They were aware she hit that ground very heavily and of course they would also be aware the likelihood of suffering serious injury was high.

“When you know you have injured someone not to stop and give them a hand — it’s really bad behaviour.

“It’s time they came forward.”

A car had stopped and one motorbike in the westward bound group did a one-wheel stand before the second bike, with a passenger aboard, hit the woman.

The driver fell off but got back on the bike and rode off. His pillion passenger ran away.

“We believe these people are local. We believe there will be people in the Carrum Downs area who know who is responsible for this,’’ Det Insp Rankin said.

“I think it would reflect rather better on them if they showed some remorse and gave themselves up to the local police.

“We are prepared and ready to go and talk to them at any time.

“At this stage we have no firm leads at all.”

It’s believed the same group of youths were involved in an earlier incident in which they played chicken with a cyclist.

Those responsible are likely to face charges including dangerous driving causing serious injury.

Mr Wall said monkey bikes regularly hooned through the area.

“The bikes are always around and I hear them roaring around at midnight at times,” he said.

Carrum Downs local Dimitra Ermogenis said she often heard kids on small motorbikes riding near her street.

“They don’t have any consideration for the traffic rules,” she said.

“Where I live they’re constantly riding up and down the street. I’ve had enough of them.”

Ms Ermogenis said it was common for kids to ride down Rowellyn Ave, near the shopping centre, because it was on a hill.

“They get to high speeds when they’re going down the hill,” she said.

Police have urged witnesses or anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

wes.hosking@news.com.au