Flowers left for Ronnie McArthur at the site of his the incident

A MANHUNT is underway after an elderly widower was hit and killed by a car fleeing police.

Ronnie McArthur, 74, has been described as a “kind and gentle” man, with neighbours remembering how he spent years caring for his wife Ann as she suffered ill health.

He died after being struck at the junction of York Way and Copenhagen Street in King’s Cross by a car speeding away from police on Tuesday evening.

Detectives are piecing together the full circumstances of the collision, but four men are believed to have jumped from the Kia Stinger and fled the scene.

Three men were later arrested, aged 18, 20 and 22, but another suspect has not been traced.

The scene on Tuesday night when a car full of suspected robbers fled police and hit Ronnie McArthur

Mr McArthur, from Barnsbury, was known as Ronnie to his friends. Adrianne LeMan, who has been his neighbour for 22 years, said: “It’s so terrible. He was just a delightful man.

“He was wonderful with his wife. She was very unwell but he was always there for her. He would take her off to respite centres and to church. He really was a sweet man.”

She added: “After his wife died he came to me and said it would be nice to get to know each other better. Yes, I said, and he came over for coffee the next day.”

Mr McArthur, originally from Scotland, spent a lot of his time there with his wife. The couple went on walking holidays across the world, to places as far-flung as Tasmania and the Himalayas. Mrs McArthur died at the end of last year.

Another neighbour in Ripplevale Grove, who has lived in the street for 30 years, said: “When we first moved in he was the first to come over and welcome us and say ‘Hi!’.

“He was the most amazing husband to Ann. He kept her out of any care homes and he was patient with her. This whole thing has shaken our street up. This is a very friendly area.”

Police was investigating a robbery in Hornsey Rise Gardens, in Upper Holloway, on Tuesday evening when a 22-year-old man was reportedly assaulted by a group of men who then took his possessions.

Police later pulled up beside a Kia Stinger in York Way, which they believed was linked to the robbery, at which point it sped off and hit Mr McArthur.

Two of the three men arrested on suspicion of robbery have been released under investigation and one has been released on bail.

Police confirmed yesterday (Thursday) that they were still looking for another man in connection with the incident. The Independent Office for Police Conduct has launched an investigation into the incident. Mr McArthur’s family have been informed.

IOPC deputy director general Jonathan Green said: “This is a tragic event and my thoughts go to Mr McArthur’s friends and family and all those affected.

“I would urge anyone who has seen any part of the pursuit and crash to please contact us to help us establish the circumstances that led to this terrible incident.”
You can contact the IOPC on 0800 096 9076 or email copenhagenstreet@policeconduct.gov.uk