by Gerry Warren

gwarren@thekmgroup.co.uk

The 20-year-old student who died in a road accident in St Stephen’s Hill in Canterbury last week has been named as Bihari Payagala who was in her second year at the University of Kent.

Miss Payagala, who was studying at the School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research, was killed after being hit by a car as she crossed the road shortly before 2.30pm on Thursday.

It happened near the junction of Downs Road and she was hit by a Ford Fiesta driven by a man in his 60s from Thanet who was unhurt.

Miss Payagala, who was also known as Dona, comes from London but is thought to have been living in digs in Downs Road.

Her death prompted Kent Union to post a message of sympathy to her family on its website this week.

Friends have also left flowers and numerous messages of sympathy at the scene.

The road was closed for five hours following the collision and police crash investigators are continuing to appeal for witnesses.

Investigating officer PC Dave Adams said: "St Stephen’s Hill would have been busy with both pedestrians and traffic at that time of the day and I ask anyone who was in the area at the time to cast their minds back and try and remember if they saw anything that could be relevant to our inquiries."

Anyone with information should call PC Dave Adams on the Serious Collision Investigation Unit Appeal Line on 01622 798538.