A DRIVER has spoken of the harrowing moment when he accidentally knocked down and killed a pensioner in Hampstead. Peter Burroughs collided with 87-year-old Petr Loukoyanov on North End Way at 10am on Saturday February 3

Katie Davies

A DRIVER has spoken of the harrowing moment when he accidentally knocked down and killed a pensioner in Hampstead.

Peter Burroughs collided with 87-year-old Petr Loukoyanov on North End Way at 10am on Saturday February 3.

The 57-year-old would normally have been at his home in Harrow but had been asked by his boss at LA Cleaning ltd to go to work.

He said: "Everyone keeps saying I was in the wrong place at the wrong time and I probably was, but it doesn't help. A man died and it is going to take a long time to get over.

"I was going up the hill as normal and then I was just blinded by the sun 10 metres from the crossing. Then there was a big bang and obviously I realised I had hit something or something had hit me, but it wasn't until I brought the vehicle to a standstill that I realised what had happened."

Mr Burroughs is now trying to find the man who called an ambulance.

"Suddenly there was a chap standing there ringing the ambulance and I wasn't sure where he came from.

"Then he disappeared. He may have seen what happened so it would be good if he could come forward and speak to the police

"I am just hoping people can see this as an unfortunate incident that was confounded by the fact the sun was low."

Mr Burroughs was questioned by police but has not been charged with any offences.

He added: "Nothing can make me feel any better. I will be ok and then these flashbacks come over me for no reason at all. I am not sleeping at all well - I keep waking up in cold sweats.

"My heart just goes out to the gentleman's relatives."

Last week the Ham&High reported how Mr Loukoyanov, who lived in Finchley, died at the spot where residents have been campaigning for better road safety measures.

His relatives in Russia are arranging his funeral.

Natasha Pavlou, assistant manager of the Bull&Bush where Mr Loukoyanov was a regular, said: "He didn't speak to any of us because he didn't speak English. But he would grab our hands and bow to us saying thank you for his little half a pint of beer.

"We were just getting to work when it happened - one of the staff passed him on the street just before. It was even worse when we realised who it was, despite the fact he was 80 or 90, this is not a nice way to go."

Anyone who witnessed the incident can call the traffic police at Euston 020-7388 6806.

katie.davies@hamhigh.co.uk