A Surrey man who suffered significant injuries Sunday when he was run over in his driveway by a car thief has died.
Police announced Friday afternoon that Khammone Phommavong, 60, succumbed to injuries earlier in the day (March 11).
Officers with the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team have now taken the lead in the investigation, supported by Surrey RCMP's Serious Crimes Unit.
About a dozen officers are working on the file, said Sgt. Peter Thiessen.
Phommavong was apparently investigating a suspicious noise around 3:30 a.m. March 6 when he came across the theft in progress, police said. He was struck as the vehicle, an Acura MDX, was driven out of the driveway, located in the 5900-block of 168A Street.
Police at the time said Phommavong suffered "substantial, lower-body-crushing" injuries. He was placed in an induced coma.
Thiessen said while police feel Phommavong's death was "directly linked" to his being run down, an autopsy is needed to confirm the suspicion.
""We have to ensure there isn't some other medical factor that we're not aware of," he said.
The autopsy is scheduled for Monday.
Meanwhile, police continue to appeal for information on the person or people responsible for Phommavong's death. Thiessen would not say if a suspect has been identified.
"At this point, we're not commenting directly whether we have a direct suspect or not, whether we believe it's one or more," he said.
"Nobody's been arrested."
Anyone with information may call the IHIT tip line at 1-877-551-IHIT (4448) or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.