Three men have been taken into custody following the tragic death of an elderly pedestrian, aged in his 80s, who was struck by a vehicle and allegedly carried on top of it for nearly a mile.
Kent Police reported that the incident occurred on Monday when the victim was hit by a grey Mercedes estate on the A289 Gads Hill in Gillingham. The vehicle continued for an unspecified distance after the collision.
A postman discovered the man’s body on Grange Road, mistaking it initially for a dummy secured to a car roof. The vehicle was later located in Eastcourt Lane.
On the same day of the incident, police arrested two individuals: a 29-year-old from Chatham and a 28-year-old without a fixed address. On Tuesday, a third suspect, also 28 years old and from Edgware in north-west London, was apprehended in connection with the case.
Authorities stated that the two occupants of the Mercedes fled the scene on foot.
Ralph Belmonte, a long-time resident of Grange Road, recounted the postman’s discovery, noting, „It was only on his return to drop the rest of the mail off that he saw [the body] on the road and approached it thinking that it might have been a dummy and it could create a problem, an accident.“
He added, „It's as safe as anybody's area really, until something like this happens… It's not an area known for high crime rates, but it can happen anywhere.“
In the ongoing investigation, detectives have released CCTV footage depicting two individuals dressed in dark clothing on the pavement, one appearing to run while holding a number plate.
Paramedics from the South East Coast Ambulance Service provided initial treatment to the pedestrian at the scene; however, he later succumbed to his injuries, according to a spokesperson.
Detective Inspector Zoe Wilczek, leading the serious collision investigation unit at Kent Police, emphasized the importance of community assistance in the case. „We would like to thank all those who have assisted our investigation so far,“ she stated. „We are urging anyone who witnessed the incident, or saw the vehicle or pedestrian prior to the collision, to contact us. We're also asking anyone who may have caught any part of the incident on their dashcams and CCTV, and has not yet got in touch with us, to do so.“
Bildquelle: Bildquelle: Benjamin Davies auf Unsplash
