Man, 70, hit and killed by stolen car in high-speed police chase

Horrified neighbours told today of seeing the 70-year-old victim lying on the bonnet of the VW Golf which had been pursued in Hayes.

The pensioner had just parked his Vauxhall Frontera outside the house in Moray Avenue when the Golf hit him as he got out at 7pm last night.

The Golf was reported stolen after a house burglary a few minutes earlier and police gave chase when it was spotted in nearby Dawley Road.
During the chase it hit a parked Vauxhall Zafira at the junction of Botwell Lane and Church Road, then sped into Moray Avenue. The police vehicle hit the same car and officers were forced to abandon the pursuit.

The stolen car's driver and a passenger were seen running from the scene in Moray Avenue and were today being hunted by police.

Ram Bavan, a Heathrow airport security worker, left his house in the same road after hearing a women screaming and seeing her fleeing.

Mr Bavan, 36, said: "I walked up and someone had already called the police. The guy was lying on top of the bonnet. Within a minute paramedics arrived. We asked if he was OK but there was no movement. People were shocked. Everyone was out on the street but the police came and cleared them.

"By the time I got out there was no one in the other car but someone said they saw somebody running away."

Another neighbour said: "Most of the people in the street are saying they saw a lady running in the gardens and there was a helicopter looking for her."

It is thought the victim was renting a room in the semi-detached house for a few weeks. A man who came out of the house this morning refused to speak about what happened but said he was Portuguese and had a family.

Det Sgt Chris Osborne of the Met said: "We are keen to speak to anyone in the area who either saw the Golf being driven prior to the collision or anyone who saw the people responsible running away afterwards."

Scotland Yard today confirmed that the Independent Police Complaints Commission and the Directorate of Professional Standards have been informed about the death.

Anyone who can assist should call 020 8998 5319 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.