AN INQUEST into the death of an 89-year-old man who died after being hit by a car has found the driver was not to blame.

Frederick Penfold died in hospital on March 23 as a result of head and pelvic injuries he suffered when he was hit by a Ford Focus as he tried to cross Perry Street in Gravesend on March 3.

During the inquest on Thursday (September 2), the driver of the car, Sukhjit Nijjer, told Gravesend Coroner’s Court Mr Penfold had stepped into the road, giving him no chance of avoiding him.

PC David Kirk, who investigated the collision, told the court CCTV footage showed Mr Nijjer was driving at 22mph along the 30mph road and had been unable to swerve in time to avoid Mr Penfold.

PC Kirk, of Kent police’s forensic investigation team, said: “Primary causation must lie with the pedestrian, Frederick Penfold.”

Mr Penfold, whose wife Grace died in 2007, lived in Orchard Road in Northfleet, and PC Kirk said nobody knows where he was going on the day of the accident.

Dharampal Balla, a witness to the accident, told the court Mr Penfold was an “arm’s length” away from a pelican crossing when he stepped into the road.

He said: “He could have pressed the button to cross the road, so I have no idea why he didn’t use the crossing.”

Recording a verdict of accidental death, Coroner Roger Hatch said: “Mr Penfold stepped off the curb into the path of Mr Nijjer, who tried to avoid a collision but could not do so.”