Family tribute to ‘proud’ great-grandfather who died after Wanstead crash
Basant Lal Sharma, 91, who died on Tuesday following a collision in High Street, Wanstead - Credit: Archant
A devastated family has paid tribute to a “proud” great-grandfather who died after he was hit by a car on Tuesday morning.
Floral tributes left in High Street, Wanstead, after Basant Lal Sharma, 91, was hit by a car and died later in hospital. Picture: Ajay Nair - Credit: Archant
Retired businessman Basant Lal Sharma, 91, died hours after the collision at a zebra crossing in High Street, Wanstead.
Speaking to the Recorder, his son Yagya Sharma said that his dad had been out on his daily morning walk, setting off from their home nearby.
“He takes this route everyday,“ he said. “He walks to the park and comes back around – it was his normal route, he did it twice a day.”
Police were called by London Ambulance Service (LAS) at 8.55am following the incident at the junction with Woodbine Place. Mr Sharma died in hospital at 1.06pm.
Tributes left in High Street, Wanstead, after Basant Lal Sharma, 91, was hit by a car and died later in hospital. Picture: Ken Mears - Credit: Archant
A Metropolitan Police spokesman confirmed the car stopped at the scene and that no arrests were made, but said police inquiries were ongoing.
Paying tribute to his dad, the 57-year-old said: “He was a great man, he was a very proud person, very smartly turned out and very friendly.
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“He had lots of friends in the area. He was a disciplined man, he brought us up well – everyone’s done well.”
Mr Sharma worked as a forklift driver in the Midlands before setting up a successful clothing business and retiring 25 years ago before moving to Wanstead.
Floral tributes left in High Street, Wanstead, after Basant Lal Sharma, 91, was hit by a car and died later in hospital. Picture: Ajay Nair - Credit: Archant
His son added: “He was very healthy – you wouldn’t think he was in his 90s.”
The dad-of-five leaves behind 15 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Mr Sharma’s son Chandra Sharma, 54, called for action to make roads safer in the area.
“We want to start a campaign about this zebra crossing – it’s in the wrong location,” he said. “It’s been a problem for a while – it shouldn’t be here.
Basant Lal Sharma, 91, was hit by a car in High Street, Wanstead, and died later in hospital. Picture: Ellie Hoskins - Credit: Archant
“The whole area has got a lot more busier and there needs to be more speed bumps here – there needs to be better traffic management.
“If anything good comes out of this it’s so no one else goes through what we’re going through.”
