Police appeal for witnesses to death of Christopher Ritchie

The crime scene outside Manor Park station last November (Image: Archant)

Christopher Ritchie was walking along Forest Drive, close to Manor Park railway station, on Wednesday, November 20 when a blue Ford Focus mounted the pavement and crashed into him.

Christopher Ritchie, with his wife Sharon, on their wedding day (Image: Archant)

Police and the London Ambulance Service were called at 7.23am, but Mr Ritchie, 52, was pronounced dead at the scene.

A post-mortem examination gave the cause of death as a head injury.

Father of three Mr Ritchie, who lived in Heath Road, Chadwell Heath, was on his way to his job as a foreman for Manor Park Cemetary and Crematorium when he was hit.

A man, believed to be the driver, was seen leaving the scene of the collision on foot.

A 38-year-old man was later arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and failing to stop at the scene of a road traffic collision.

Detective Sergeant Helen Lambert from the MPS Road Death Investigation Team said: “This fatal collision took place on a busy highway frequented by many local people and commuters.

“I’m convinced somebody saw something that can help us with our enquires.

“The family are naturally devastated by the loss of their loved one, an innocent family man who was going about his everyday business.”

Anyone with information is asked to call the incident room hotline on 020 8597 4874 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.