Hit-and-run victim could be brain-damaged

A skateboarder could be permanently brain-damaged after being injured in a suspected hit and run in Sydney's east.

The 26-year-old man was hit by a car while skating home down a steep, wet Bronte street in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

About half an hour later, a suspect was stopped by police in Chatswood.

He was questioned for 12 hours, but released after being charged with drug offences.

Forensic specialists are examining his car, which had signs of damage.

The skateboarder was found lying unconscious in the middle of the road by a passing motorist and was treated by paramedics before being taken to St Vincent's Hospital, where he remains in a critical condition with head injuries.

The man's brother was by his side in hospital throughout Wednesday and has been trying to contact their mother, who is overseas, Network Ten reports.

Bob Tate manages the Sydney pub where the man works and said his staff were devastated.

"You wouldn't think that these sort of things would happen," he told Network Ten.

"(He's) well humoured, the life of the party. It's a very sad situation."

Local resident Antonia Stocken said cars speed up and down the road, especially in the early morning.

"Generally, it's busy," she said.

"Cars can really hurtle up and down here really fast."