A group of Dartford residents are calling for a new zebra crossing to be installed on their road after an elderly man was knocked down and killed.

The man, who was in his eighties, was pronounced dead at the scene after being hit by a silver Volvo saloon in Park Road by the junction with Downs Avenue at around 8.10am on Tuesday (July 1).

Residents of the road have started Facebook campaign to have a the current zebra crossing moved to a safer location- it is on a blind bend close to a roundabout at the junction of Princes Road.

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Carly Follett, 38, of Park Road, who set up the group ccalled 'Park Road, Dartford, Traffic & Road Issues', said: "About eight months ago we started to ask Highways, Kent County Council and Dartford Council about installing safer crossings on the road.

"There is a senior school at one end and a junior school close to the other end and various facilities, infant schools and playgroups close by.

"This mean there are lots of children trying to cross this road along with residents of all ages and dog walkers.

Dartford MP Gareth Johnson said: "I have been in contact with a number of residents on the road and we are arranging a date to meet up so that I can hear directly the concerns they have and the suggestion the residents have to mitigate traffic problems on the road.

"A police investigation is under way and so we will need to see if it identifies any specific problems with the road that could have caused this terrible accident."

Mrs Follett added: "The current zebra crossing is in an area of utter stupidity, there is a blind bend so not only can pedestrians not see clearly what is approaching from the Brent, neither can the drivers.

"I witness more than 20 times a day, huge lorries, cranes and other large vehicles come around the bend from the Brent to Park Road on the other side of the road, chancing oncoming traffic with a collision and many pedestrians nearly being hit.

"I would rather chance running across the road than take my children on that crossing."

A spokesman for Kent County Council said: “We were deeply saddened to hear about the incident and would like to express our deepest sympathies to the family of the gentleman involved.

“Kent County Council are awaiting the results of the police investigation before deciding which action to take.”

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Detective Sergeant Scott Lynch, of the Serious Collision Investigation Unit at Kent Police, said: "I would urge anyone who witnessed the collision and has not yet spoken to an officer to get in touch as you might have information that could help with our investigation.

"I would also ask anyone who saw the car or the man, who was described as using a walking stick and wearing a flat cap, prior to the collision to contact the Serious Collision Investigation Unit."

Witnesses or anyone with information is asked to call 01622 798538.