A pub landlord has described trying to help the man who died after being hit by a lorry this morning.

The 54-year-old man was hit by a goods lorry as he tried to cross Pound Street near Carshalton Ponds at 9.30am.

Your Local Guardian:

The lorry in Pound Street, pic by Danyal Mustafa

It is understood the man stepped out from the side of the road, where there is no path or pedestrian crossing, and was dragged for about four metres after being hit by the lorry.

People who live near the ponds have called the road, which only has a path on one side, “dangerous” and are calling for something to be done about it.

Residents reported nearby All Saints Church, which does have a path parallel to Pound Street, ringing its bells in respect after the man was pronounced dead at 10.30am. 

Meirion Perring, 54, the general manager of the Greyhound Hotel, in Carshalton, came across the incident shortly after it happened.

Your Local Guardian:

The air ambulance was called, pic by Danyal Mustafa

He said: “I was just coming back from the post office and noticed a lorry had stopped and I looked and noticed there was a person under the wheels of the lorry.

“I ran across to see if I could help him and I stayed with him until the ambulance services arrived.

“He was unconscious he couldn’t speak. I held his head and tried to look after him.

"I was there for about 10 to 15 minutes. I think there was an ambulance in the traffic that witnessed it. They came across the same time as me and we were all there together.

“I was so involved in making sure he was comfortable that I wasn’t aware of what was going on around me.

“It is a bit of a shock to the system. It is very upsetting. I think it will take me a while to get over it.

“My thoughts go out to the family. Really I just wish them all the best. It’s an awful thing.

“Maybe they should have some form of zebra crossing. It is a very dangerous area - I think maybe they should widen the path or put speed bumps there.”

Your Local Guardian:

The 'dangerous' piece of road where the man stepped out

Darren Norris, 47, from Esher, was working for CJ Construction nearby and said his colleague had witnessed the incident but had been sent home in shock.

Stuart Butters, 37, was four cars behind the lorry and said: “[The road] is dangerous. You can’t see what’s going on.”

One woman, who asked not to be named, said: “[Pedestrians] use it as a quick getaway across the road rather than walk further up where it’s safer but when lorries come round and buses – they can’t see.

“You think everything’s safe and then the next thing it isn’t. It’s a terrible tragedy. I think everybody is in a state of shock all round.”

Did you know the man? Leave a tribute in the box below, email ssleigh@london.newsquest.co.uk or call 0208 722 6358.

 

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