Jozef Valabik died after being hit by car at 28mph
Construction worker walked out in front of vehicle
Published: 08 July, 2010
by JOSIE HINTON
A CONSTRUCTION worker died after being hit by a chauffeur-driven car travelling at just 28mph.
Jozef Valabik, 35, was hit by the blue Chrysler as he crossed at the junction of Kentish Town Road and Hawley Road in Camden Town early on January 20, while the traffic lights were still green.
At an inquest into his death at St Pancras Coroner’s Court on Friday, driver Elgoris Polisciokas, who has been a chauffeur for 10 years, spoke of the moment Mr Valabik stepped out in front of his car.
“I had picked up a client in Highgate and was on my way to Paddington station,” he said. “I approached the junction and it was a green light for me so I just continued to drive across the junction.
“The street was empty but I just heard someone kick the car. It was quite a loud noise.
“I looked at my mirrors and saw my side mirror was broken and I didn’t see anything in my rear mirror.
“Then I stopped the car and came out to look at the junction and saw someone was lying by the kerb.”
Slovakian-born Mr Valabik was treated by paramedics but died later at the Royal Free Hospital from multiple injuries.
CCTV cameras 40 metres away from the junction captured the vehicle going towards and moving past the scene of the accident, allowing police to calculate its speed. But the actual collision was not caught on CCTV.
No further action is likely to be taken against Mr Polisciokas but the Crown Prosecution Serviice are yet to confirm their intentions.
Police collision investigator March Crouch said: “From the evidence I collected at the scene, I found no information that led me to believe the layout of the junction or any problems with the vehicle led to the collision.
“Considering the CCTV evidence I think the pedestrian crossed the road when he had a red man and the traffic was on green.”
Coroner Sean McGovern recorded a verdict of accidental death.
Speaking outside the court, Mr Valabik’s friend Miro Palaz called for cameras on the junction to provide evidence in case of future incidents.
Mr Valabik’s girlfriend Suzana Simonidpsoba added: “It is sad for everyone. The driver of the car has not driven a car since and I know he too is destroyed by this. So many lives have been affected.”
Mr Valabik, who lived in Ealing, leaves a six-year-old son.