The elderly man who died after he was mown down by a car allegedly fleeing police in York Way on Tuesday evening has been named.
Ronnie McArthur, who neighbours say lived near the crime scene, was standing on the pavement when he was hit by a Kia Stinger accelerating away from a police car at about 5.30pm. He died of his injuries in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
Witnesses described the terrifying moment the car hit Mr McArthur, and how the vehicle also collided with a traffic light and “ripped” it from the ground, leaving the victim, 74, trapped beneath the dislodged light as the suspects fled the car on foot.
Police watchdog the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which investigates deaths that involve contact with police, has taken over the investigation. Its deputy director general Jonathan Green said: “This is a tragic event and my thoughts go to Mr McArthur’s friends and family and all those affected.
“I would urge anyone who has seen any part of the pursuit and crash to please contact us to help us establish the circumstances that led to this terrible incident.”
Three men, 18, 20 and 22, were arrested on suspicion of robbery and taking and driving away on Tuesday.
The first has since been released on bail, while the others have been released under investigation.
The Met Police continue to investigate the initial robbery, which happened in Hornsey Rise Gardens on Tuesday.
A spokesperson said: “The victim, a 22-year-old man, was reportedly assaulted by a group of males who then took his possessions.
“He was taken to hospital and treated; his injuries were not serious.”
David Brown was sitting in his front room when Mr McArthur was hit by the car.
He told the Gazette: “We were just in watching television, we have big glass window [facing into the street] and I just saw the top of then light pole shaking, so I immediately got up and saw a car had crashed into the traffic lights.
“Some lad got out and ran off. After that we realised there was an old man trapped underneath the traffic light itself. It was on top of him and the police had to pull it off him.”
He described how police and paramedics soon arrived, along with a hovering helicopter which he didn’t see land.
“They were out there for quite a while trying to stabilise the guy,” David added. “You could see them struggling to keep him alive.
“The thing we found quite disgusting is the fact that one of the lads who got out of the car was just laughing, while old man was fighting for his life.
“Fair enough whatever you did, but when you realise you had hurt someone how could you not show compassion? A mistake was one thing but laughing while an old man was knocked down on the floor? It’s sickening.
“It was completely crazy out there because it literally ripped the traffic light off and you could see all the wires hanging out.
“It could have been my wife and children crossing the road. It could have been an even greater disaster.”
Did you know Ronnie McArthur? Contact Lucas at the Gazette newsdesk to share your tributes on 07785 616 244 or email lucas.cumiskey@archant.co.uk.
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