A PENSIONER who was hit by a van and air-lifted to hospital this morning (June 22) has died.

The 71-year-old, from Waltham Abbey, was walking outside Tesco, in Epping High Street, when he was struck by a white Mercedes Sprinter shortly after 11am.

He was taken to the Royal London hospital by the Hertfordshire air ambulance but died a short time later.

The driver of the van was not injured in the collision.

A 70-year-old man from Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of causing death by careless driving, and is being questioned by road policing officers at Loughton police station.

A section of the High Street was closed for three hours while forensic collision investigators carried out inquiries.

Owner of West End Furniture Mike Johnson, saw the incident, which happened just outside his shop.

He said: “I heard the impact. I turned round and saw this body flying through the air. I phoned for an ambulance straight away. A guy peddling past was actually a doctor and he stopped to help. There’s not a lot you can do.

“The driver sat in here for a couple of hours. He was obviously shaken up. One of the traffic cops pulled him over. We made him a cup of tea.”

Witness, and assistant manager at Tile Base Paul Miles said: “It hit him really really hard. You could see the blood on the road, it was a bit grim

“I could see him on the floor but I didn’t see the impact, thankfully. It was pretty horrendous. His head hit the glass. He was breathing very erratically. It was quite horrible to see.”

“The helicopter came down, and they treated him there. He had a major bang on the head. The driver went to the shop next door and the police took him away. He looked shook up.”

The incident took place at a traffic island used by many people to cross the road prompting calls for a full pedestrian crossing to be installed.

Mr Miles said: “It’s the only place in 200 yards to get across. They don’t mind whacking yellow lines down here but they don’t want to put in any white ones. I’m not saying it would have saved his life, but maybe drivers would be more aware to slow down at a pedestrian crossing.

“It’s terrible really. I can understand why he’d cross there and not 200 yards up the road. He was probably trying to get to Tesco’s, but it’s only a matter of time before it happens again.

“Bearing in mind there’s a school up there, there needs to be a pedestrian crossing. You get kids running across, women, old boys. It’s used constantly. If that was a school kid it probably would have broken him in half.”

Mr Johnson said: “When Tesco’s set up there was talk of a pedestrian crossing. For whatever reason it didn’t happen. It would obviously help. It’s quite busy and a lot of people cross there. There are a lot of old people and women with pushchairs.”

Any witnesses are urged to contact investigating officers at the Chigwell Road Policing Unit on 0300 333 4444.