The grieving wife of a “caring and loving” new father who was killed after a “lorry reversed into” him while he was on duty as a civil enforcement officer in New Malden has paid tribute.
Beju Shah, 46, who worked for the council's civil enforcement partner NSL Services, was killed after his moped crashed into a lorry at the junction of Coombe Lane West and Trap's Lane on Thursday, January 5.
He died in Tooting Hospital two days later, leaving behind an eight-month old baby and his wife Jalpa.
From Tuesday: Kingston Council parking officer Beju Shah was on duty at the time of fatal lorry crash in New Malden
An eyewitness told this paper he saw the lorry reverse into Mr Shah.
In a statement, his wife Jalpa, 34, said: "As a family we are devastated by our loss We are desperate to know the truth about how this collision occurred.
“This photograph was taken six days before Beju died and this is how we will remember him, as a happy, dedicated, caring and loving husband, son and father, who was the main bread winner for his family.
“Beju was a true family man.”
A spokesman for NSL said: "We are deeply upset at the loss of Beju Shah, a mobile civil enforcement officer and experienced rider, who had been with NSL for many years.
"Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this tragic time and we are offering support to his many colleagues in the business."
The driver of the lorry stopped at the scene and was not arrested. A police investigation has been launched.
Beju Shah was killed on Thursday, January 5
The crash, less than a mile away from where 14-year-old Coombe Girls pupil Lavna Chuttoo was killed in 2015, has once again raised the question of HGV safety in residential streets.
In September last year, London mayor Sadiq Khan announced plans to ban the most dangerous lorries from the capital’s roads by 2020.
Cycling groups including the London Cycling Campaign have campaigned for greater safety measures after a 2013 report from Transport for London found lorries were disproportionately responsible for cyclists deaths in the capital.
New Malden councillor Julie Pickering said: “When something like this happen I have to ask questions to ensure that were a dealing with it appropriately.
“Obviously there is no connection between the junction and the one down at Lime Grove [where Lavna was killed], but I will ask more questions now because of it.”
A Kingston Council spokeswoman confirmed that Mr Shah had been on duty at the time of the crash.
She added: "We are deeply saddened to hear of the death of Beju Shah. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this very difficult time. A police investigation is underway."
Mr Shah’s family have launched an appeal for witnesses to the crash to come forward. Call the Serious Collision Unit on 020 8543 5157.
- Got a story? Call the newsdesk on 020 8722 6315 or send an email the jonathan.mitchell@london.newsquest.co.uk
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article