Pictured: Pedestrian who was killed by hit-and-run driver during police chase in horror smash that sent his body flying into nearby garden
- Collision launched Andrew Kitson, 44, into nearby garden and he died instantly in Wakefield, West Yorkshire
- 22-year-old man arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving and allegedly unaware that he had hit the victim
- Woman at the scene yesterday revealed the victim had only popped out to go shopping before he was killed
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This is the first picture of a pedestrian who was instantly killed and his body thrown into a nearby garden after being struck by a car as the driver attempted to flee police.
The motorist crashed into Andrew Kitson, 44, from Wakefield, as he was chased by two police cars through the West Yorkshire city yesterday afternoon.
The collision, which took place around 5.30pm, threw Mr Kitson into a nearby garden where he died instantly.
Keen motorcyclist and ‘loving husband’ Mr Kitson was walking to the Co-op and was about 400 metres from home when he was struck by the car.
Today, a family friend of Mr Kitson said: ‘Jess (his wife) is heartbroken. They were so much in love and did everything together.
Andrew Kitson (pictured), from Wakefield, who was killed in a crash yesterday when a car being chased by police struck him as he walked along a pavement on his way to the shops for his wife Jess (also pictured).
‘They loved their motorbike and loved their holidays abroad. Andrew was a loving husband.’
The couple had holidayed in Spain, Italy, and New York in recent years.
A 22-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving, and was allegedly unaware that he had hit the victim until after he had got out of the car.
Dramatic photographs showed debris littered across the road next to a blue tent that had been erected – and a man being taken away from the scene by three officers.
Police officers investigate the crash yesterday afternoon in Wakefield, West Yorkshire
A blue tent is pictured in front of a house, closed to where the car flipped over yesterday
It is also believed that the arrested man, who only suffered minor injuries, had been banned from driving before the incident.
Police initially signalled for the Peugeot to stop in East Ardsley near the M1 at 5.18pm yesterday, but it drove off and was pursued by officers for about four miles.
The crash then happened at about 5.30pm in the Lofthouse Gate area of Wakefield, with the victim being hit at such a pace that he was launched into a garden.
However, neither the driver nor the police realised he had been struck down until a neighbour revealed that there was a dead body in her garden.
A man is led away from the scene by officers in Wakefield yesterday following the fatal crash
The car had flipped over with the roof of the vehicle reduced to scraps. Locals who witnessed the incident estimated the car was going at 80mph before the crash.
One woman, who is understood to be the victim’s mother, arrived at the scene shortly afterwards and said that the man had just nipped out to do some shopping.
An air ambulance was sent to the scene but it was not required. The incident is currently being investigated by the Independent Office for Police Conduct.
Police in West Yorkshire have been involved in a purge to reduce the amount of anti-social driving that has affected many local communities since lockdown began.
The Peugeot 307 overturned in the crash which saw the victim thrown into a nearby garden
A person is pictured beginning to clear up the damage to a wall at the scene of the crash in Leeds Road, Outwood.
Floral tributes are left at the scene of the crash today following the death of the pedestrian who was struck by a car being chased by police
A 22-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving after the incident
A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: ‘At 5:18pm police officers in a marked roads policing vehicle signalled for a Peugeot 307 to stop in East Ardsley.
‘The vehicle failed to stop and a pursuit began. A short time later the Peugeot and a male pedestrian on Leeds Road, Outwood were in collision.
‘The male pedestrian died as a result at the scene. The driver of the vehicle suffered what are believed to be minor injuries.
‘A 22-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. Enquiries into the incident remain ongoing.’
Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to call 101, quoting log 1253 of June 9