The scene of the fatal accident near the junction with Beehive Lane.

UPDATE: Neighbour describes moment woman killed by police motorbike in Gants Hill

by Amanda Nunn Tuesday, June 26, 2012
2:39 PM

A neighbour of the woman killed this morning by a police motorbike described her as a “caring loving grandmother”.

The woman, believed to be 78-years-old, was killed this morning at about 10.30am after being hit by a motorbike escorting a convoy of children to Southend.

Kaz Hursit, 44, of Eastern Avenue, said: “We came out my house with my mum and son to wave to the children in the procession.

“We saw her come out of her house and waited at the traffic lights then there was this big bang and we saw her on the floor.”

Mr Hursit then described hearing a loud bang.

“I saw the motorbike careering down to the Gants Hill roundabout out of control and was hanging off the back. He then came off and rolled on the floor.”

The police officer was airlifted to the Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel with chest and arm injuries. He was from the City of London force.

“My son was the first one to reach her,” said Mr Hursit. “We’ve known her for 35 years. She was very religious and was a caring, loving grandmother.”

The convoy was the London Taxidrivers’ Fund for Underprivileged Children’s annual trip to Southend.

Eastern Avenue between the Redbridge roundabout and the Gants Hill roundabout has been closed in both directions, and the closure is likely to remain in place for “most of the afternoon” according to Transport for London.

A stretch of Eastern Avenue from its junction with Beehive Lane to the Gants Hill roundabout – the stretch where the accident happened – has also been closed.