Faversham MP Helen Whately has called for an end to ‘fly-parking’ after a fatal accident on the A2 last week.

Three men were killed last Thursday at around 4.30am when a black Mercedes hit a lorry parked in a lay-by on the London-bound carriageway at Dunkirk.

The friends, who were in their 30s and from Finsbury Park, were returning to London from a trip to the coast.

A fourth passenger survived but suffered serious injuries and is being treated in a London hospital.

Mrs Whately said: “My thoughts are with the families and friends of the three people killed in this horrific accident.

“Sincere thanks to the emergency services who attended the crash and have been doing their best for the survivor.”

The MP, who has previously asked the government to increase fines for fly-parking, also called for more truck stops to increase the number of safe places for lorries to park.

She said: “We don’t know – and may never know – exactly what happened.

“My understanding is the car crashed into a parked lorry.

“The accident was on a stretch of the A2 where there is a problem with lorries parking in lay-bys, on slip roads and mounting the pavement.”

“The attention this accident is bringing to the problem of lorry parking should spur on work to fix it.

“A tragic accident has occurred. Whatever the cause, people have been warning for some time that the number of lorries parked in lay-bys and slip roads is dangerous.

“We need more proper lorry parks and effective enforcement to make sure when we have those lorry parks, lorries use them.”

Paul Davis, 63, who lives in Faversham and works as a lorry driver for distribution company Gist, said that there are not enough places for HGV drivers to take breaks, which are required by law every six hours.

He said: “It is all black and white. If you go a minute over, it is an infringement. But at the moment there aren’t enough places for people to take their breaks legally.

“I do understand residents’ point of view and I would be exactly the same. But all drivers are trying to do is try to keep within the law.

“There is a distinct lack of legitimate parking places throughout Kent. My only option to park legally coming back from London is the Medway services.

“It’s not a problem that needs looking at next year, next month, or next week – its a problem that will affect people tonight.”

The road was closed for more than nine hours after the accident while officers tried to establish the exact circumstances.

The lorry driver, a 35-year-old French national, was arrested by police. He was released pending further inquiries.

Police would like to hear from anyone who may have witnessed the collision or has dashcam footage.

Witnesses should call the appeal line on 01622 798538, quoting reference SCIU/DM/008/18.