The family of a 14-year-old schoolgirl who died after being hit by a lorry in New Malden have said they “hold no malice” towards the driver and “wish him the best” following an inquest into her death.

Lavna Chuttoo, a pupil at Coombe Girls’ School in New Malden, was killed instantly by the lorry at the junction of Lime Grove and Coombe Road on her way to school on November 17.

The driver stopped and was not arrested.

The crash precipitated a flood of complaints about heavy goods vehicles using residential streets during rush hour.

Lavna’s father, Chetananand Chuttoo, spoke to this website after her inquest at West London Coroner’s Court yesterday.

He paid tribute to his daughter, saying she had “left a legacy”.

He said: “She got people together. I’ve got a lot of support from the local community. Her school was marvellous, and her friends. They were very good.

“Lavna was looking forward to joining the Army Cadets this year.

“Unfortunately it never happened but she’s actually bringing people together, it was her message.”

Coroner Chinyere Inyama recorded a conclusion of death by head injury in a road traffic collision.

He had read statements from collision investigators who found there were no defects with the lorry that killed Lavna.

One said: “[The driver] passed Miss Chuttoo about 45m before Lime Grove. After passing she was unlikely to have been visible.

“It’s very likely to say the footway was clear of pedestrians.”

The report said Lavna had been on the crossing for about one second before she was hit by the lorry, that it was “very unlikely” the driver could have seen her before the crash, and that there was a “very limited opportunity” for him to have avoided it.

The first investigator concluded: “Miss Chuttoo could have avoided this had she paid proper attention when crossing the road.”

A second investigator said the driver was an “experienced lorry driver”, and had been “seriously affected” by Lavna’s death.

Lavna “effectively ran into the path of the lorry and was killed”, according to witnesses and CCTV, he concluded.

Mr Chuttoo’s father in law, Norman Gregory, said the family held “no malice” against the driver for Lavna’s death, saying she was “a diamond”.

Mr Chuttoo added: “I know the driver was very traumatised, I know in his place I would be.

“I did get his condolences and I wish him the best.”

Concerns were raised about the safety of the junction following Lavna’s death, with a petition headed by Rosebery Avenue resident Jenny Stuart put to Kingston Council in February.

Mr Chuttoo criticised the council for doing “nothing” about the junction.

He said: “The local authority should’ve done more.

“Nothing has been done about it yet, it’s a massive shame. They have a duty of care.”

A Kingston Council spokesman said: “This was a tragic accident and our first thoughts are with the family. Road traffic policeimmediately carried out a full investigation into this incident and in addition to this a joint site assessment with the police and the council was held.

“The conclusion is that no fault can be found specifically around the layout of the junction.

“The wellbeing of pedestrians, cyclists and motorists is of paramount importance to the council and road safety is a matter we take extremely seriously.”

Tributes read out in the inquest from friends and family said Lavna was unique, caring and considerate.

One friend said the “most offensive thing she called anyone was ‘you bimbo’” and the “last thing she did was laugh”.

The friend added: “She reminded us all to value what we have and remain laughing to the end.”

Councillors will hear suggestions on how to improve the junction at a Maldens and Coombe neighbourhood committee meeting in September.

Nelson Mandela’s granddaughter Zoleka visited Lavna’s former school in June as part of a road safety campaign. Her own 13-year-old daughter was killed in a car accident in 2010.