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A seven day inquest into the death of a pensioner who died in hospital after being hit by a lorry in the high street two years ago has finally begun.
Former army man Rodney “Rod” Gates, 84, was taken to hospital on April 5, 2018, after being “clipped” by a lorry in the A2 Newington High Street as he tried to cross the road.
Mr Gates had been to his local pub The Bull Inn for a pint at around 4pm before heading home just before 6pm.
As he attempted to cross the road towards the Co-op he was hit by a Scania lorry which knocked him to the ground and resulted in a broken right femur.
The Newington pensioner was then taken to hospital where he developed a bleed and died the following day.
The lorry driver, a Portuguese man with a left hand drive, didn’t stay at the scene following the incident but was later tracked down and interviewed by officers.
He was subsequently released without charge after police determined he hadn’t committed any criminal offences.
A week long jury inquest - made up of six men and four women - began in Maidstone on Monday and heard how road works may have caused confusion for the lorry driver.
Works had begun just past the junction of Station Road a week earlier and included temporary manually-operated traffic lights.
The inquest heard how the driver had squeezed past another lorry on the narrow road moments before approaching the road works and seeing the red light.
He stopped outside the Bull Inn and Co-op but was gestured forward by traffic light operator Mr Grant who wanted to get him “as close as possible” to the lights to prevent any obstructions.
However, CCTV footage played to the jury showed the lorry edge forward and hit Mr Gates, causing him to fall.
'He was intelligent and kind with a good sense of humour and was liked and loved by many people.'
Coroner Kate Thomas explained how onlookers then attended to Mr Gates who was “concious and talking”.
A statement from his nephew Howard Gates read to the court praised him as a “regimented” man who would have a set time for his meals, shower and shaving.
Howard added how his uncle, who was married to wife Alma for 55 years, was self-dependent and would visit the Co-op close to where he was hit every day.
He said: “He was intelligent and kind with a good sense of humour and was liked and loved by many people.”
The court heard from PC Mark Wooding, of the serious investigation unit, who explained the incident happened at 5.55pm on the “busy and narrow road” which was often used as a “direct link” to Folkestone and Dover by lorry drivers.
He explained how Mr Gates was heard speaking to pedestrians after the accident, saying: “I’ve been hit by a truck, but not too bad. It’s just caught me.”
PC Wooding continued to read a transcript with the help of the coroner of interviews he conducted with the lorry driver and traffic lights operator.
During the interviews Mr Grant revealed he and some residents had concerns about the placing of the temporary traffic lights, and claims he said he and others suggested they be moved further up the road to avoid traffic problems where the road narrows.
He told PC Wooding the first time he saw Mr Gates was when he was falling to the floor and he heard him shouting “my hip, my hip”.
The inquest continues.
