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Resident speaks of shock after horror crash kills pedestrian in Luton Road, Chatham

A resident has spoken of his shock after being awoken by a crash outside his home in which a pedestrian was killed.

Keith Clear ran outside to see the chaos caused by the van which ripped through a wall and railings and damaged his disabled daughter's mobility car in Luton Road, Chatham.

Police still at the scene after the accident in Luton Road, Chatham
Police still at the scene after the accident in Luton Road, Chatham

Mr Clear was in bed when he heard "an almighty bang" caused by a Transit van mounting the pavement and coming to stop against two properties opposite.

He said: "At first I thought it was the storm they had spoken about on television, but when I looked out of the window it was carnage.

"People were outside and the police arrived shortly after along with the fire brigade. I could see a scuffle andsomebody being handcuffed."

Mr Clear's daughter Moya, 29, who has Down's syndrome and autism, had her car parked outside.

He said: "Amazingly, there was just damage to the wing mirror and the side. I spoke to my friend in the flat opposite on the phone and he could not get out because the van was up against the wall.

Mr Clear added: "There were about 10 to 15 people outside. It's a busy road and people drive fast along here. I have seen many accidents since I moved here, which was in 1996. But this was bad, you could see somebody had died. Everyone seemed to be in shock."

'This was bad, you could see somebody had died . Everyone seemed to be in shock.'

A pedestrian in his 40s who is believed to have lived locally was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash which happened at about 12.40am on Saturday.

A 45-year-old man from Spalding, Lincolnshire, was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and taken into custody.

An additional two men, aged 25 and 35 and from Chatham, were later also arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

Police spokesman Martin Very said: "In regards to the three men arrested following the collision; a 25-year-old man from Chatham and a 45-year-old man from Spalding, Lincolnshire were bailed to return to the police station on December 23 and December 26 respectively. A 35-year-old man was released pending further investigation.

It was the second serious accident in the same area in just two days. On Sunday afternoon a three-car crash blocked the residential road.

A driver of a stolen vehicle fled the scene.

Following the incidents, Tracey Crouch, MP for Chatham and Aylesford, expressed her sympathies to the family and called for action to be taken.

She said: "Many of you will have seen that there were two very serious crashes on Luton Road over the weekend, and sadly a pedestrian was killed in the first crash in the early hours of Saturday morning.

"My thoughts are with the family of the victim, and those local residents who witnessed the crash and impacted by its aftermath.

"I know that safety on Luton Road is a major concern for residents and so I have today written to both the local Police and Medway Council asking for a meeting to discuss these concerns and how we can work together to improve the safety for both motorists and pedestrians."

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