Mike Gill heard the revving of an engine and felt the bright headlights of a car beaming down on him in the seconds before he was mowed down out the front of his home.

It was just after midnight on New Year's Eve and the Coburg man was in High Street investigating illegal fireworks that had distressed his dogs Bastien and Coco.

"I walked out across the street to inspect where they were coming from," Mr Gill said.

"But all I remember is blinding lights over my shoulder and the sound sound of a car engine revving and roaring. It was so loud, it was like they were revving as hard as they could."

The 51-year-old turned his head just in time to see a car speed up as it came straight for him.

"I felt the full force of it and fell to the ground," he said. "Then I heard a woman in the passenger seat yell out 'happy new year' from an open window as they sped off."

Mr Gill lay on the side of the road in agony as he watched the car accelerate then disappear without making any attempt to stop.

He tried to stand up, but his left leg had been broken in three places, so he crawled into the gutter.

"Below my knee my leg was completely shattered and my foot was bent under my leg," he said. "I've never been in so much pain but I was just numb from the shock of it."

A neighbour who witnessed the incident ran into his house to get Mr Gill's wife Nerida who hauled him off the road while they waited for the ambulance.

"It was just horrendous to see him lying like that on the road," she said. "Mike is a big man, he's six foot five and he's a solid build, there is no way they couldn't have seen him and to yell out 'happy new year' as they speed off is just absolutely sickening."

Mr Gill was in the Austin Hospital for almost two weeks after the incident.

He has already undergone multiple surgeries, including having metal screws, pins and rods put into his injured leg, which is riddled with painful blisters.

Next week, he goes back into hospital for reconstructive surgery before months of rehabilitation.

"The doctor described my injuries as horrific," Mr Gill said.

Victoria Police believe the car turned into High Street from Murray Street and are investigating CCTV footage taken nearby at about 12.15am.

A witness had also told police the offending car was black and had multiple people inside.

Mr Gill has pleaded with those responsible to come forward.

"Somebody out there knows something and I believe somebody needs to be held accountable," he said.

"A spilt-second decision like this has the potential to change somebody's entire life. I feel lucky to be alive, but I can't help thinking that this could have been somebody's child who was hit."

Anyone with any information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000