A second man has been charged with driving offences following an alleged hit and run which left a woman fighting for her life.

Xavier Atuah-Ansu, 20, of Montgomery Avenue, Chatham, was arrested yesterday and has been charged with five offences.

The charges relate to an incident in Manor Road, Chatham, when a woman suffered serious injuries.

The woman, Dorota Paskuvic, 28, remains in hospital in an induced coma. In court it was said she will be paralysed from the neck down.

Atuah-Ansu has been charged with aggravated vehicle taking, causing injury by dangerous driving, failing to stop at the scene of an accident, no insurance and possession with intent to supply cocaine.

He appeared before Medway Magistrates’ Court today and pleaded not guilty to all charges.

The incident happened at 7.08pm on Monday, September 18. The woman was hit by a silver Ford Fiesta.

The Ford Fiesta was turning right from the High Street into Manor Road when it struck the pedestrian.

The Fiesta failed to stop following the collision and was later found abandoned in New Cut at the junction with Railway Street.

Shortly before the incident the Fiesta, which had earlier been reported stolen, had stopped.

As officers walked to the vehicle it made off and the collision occurred a few minutes later.

The officers stopped to treat the pedestrian and she was taken to a London hospital where she remains in a critical condition.

Officers charged another man, 22-year-old Jonathon Kalemba, of no fixed address on Thursday, September 21.

He was charged with dangerous driving, causing serious injury by dangerous driving, aggravated vehicle taking and failing to stop a mechanically propelled vehicle when required by a constable.

He was also charged with being the driver of a vehicle which failed to stop after a road accident, driving whist disqualified and without insurance and possession of cocaine with intent to supply.

Following his court appearance at Medway Magistrates’ Court on Friday, September 22, Mr Kalemba was recalled back to prison on unrelated offences and his due to appear before Maidstone Crown Court on Friday, October 20.

Atuah-Ansu will appear at the same court on the same date. He has been remanded in custody.

The incident is being investigated by the Independent Police Complaints Commission.