Driver arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving as Batley town centre shut down after 10am tragedy
A pensioner has been tragically killed after being struck by a council road sweeper as she walked through a busy Yorkshire shopping street.
The woman in her 70s was hit by the Kirklees Council vehicle on Commercial Street in Batley town centre just before 10am yesterday morning.
Despite the frantic efforts of emergency services who raced to the scene, the elderly victim was pronounced dead at the scene in what police are calling a devastating loss of life.
Town centre in lockdown
The usually bustling shopping street was immediately shut down as investigators swarmed the area, with Commercial Street closed in both directions from Market Place to Hick Lane.
Shocked shoppers were turned away as police tape cordoned off the entire area, with local businesses forced to close their doors for the day.
One nail salon owner posted a heartbreaking message on social media: “Due to a terrible accident outside the shop on commercial street, the street will be closed for a couple of hours and the shop will be closed for a day. We open back tomorrow. RIP our thoughts go out to the family.”
Driver arrested
A man has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and remains in police custody as detectives piece together the tragic sequence of events.
According to witnesses, the woman was crossing the road from the shops when she was struck by the vehicle.
One eyewitness took to social media warning: “Avoid commercial street batley, bad accident all emergency services out.”
Council ‘deeply saddened’
Kirklees Council confirmed the devastating incident involved one of their vehicles, with a spokesperson saying: “We are deeply saddened by the incident that took place in Batley town centre today, which has tragically resulted in a fatality.
They added: “Our heartfelt thoughts and condolences are with the person’s family and loved ones. The incident involved a council vehicle. We are fully cooperating with the police as they carry out their investigation.
Desperate appeal for witnesses
Detective Sergeant Nina Roper, of West Yorkshire Police’s Major Collision Enquiry Team, made an urgent appeal for anyone who saw the tragedy unfold to come forward.
A woman has sadly lost her life, and an investigation is under way to establish the circumstances of what has taken place,” she said.
“We have spoken to a number of witnesses at the scene but would urge anyone else who has seen any part of this incident, or the events leading up to it, to please make contact.”
She added: “Motorists who were in the area are also asked to check whether they have captured any relevant dashcam footage if they have one fitted.”
Bus services diverted
The major incident caused chaos for commuters, with bus services forced to take emergency diversions away from the town centre.
Station Coaches Services 112 and 112A were diverted via Stocks Lane, Bradford Road and Rouse Mill Lane to avoid the sealed-off area.
Community in shock
Local councillor Aziz Daji was among the first to confirm the tragic news on social media, stating that the woman hit by the road sweeping vehicle had sadly died.
The close-knit community of Batley has been left reeling from the shocking incident, with many taking to social media to express their condolences to the victim’s family.
Investigation continues
West Yorkshire Police have confirmed that a full investigation is now underway to determine exactly what led to this tragic loss of life on what should have been an ordinary Tuesday morning in the town centre.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Major Collision Enquiry Team via live chat online or by calling 101, quoting log number 509 of June 24.
The tragedy serves as a devastating reminder of how quickly lives can be changed forever on our busy streets.
Commercial Street, Batley (northern side)
Photo by Des Blenkinsopp (via Geograph), taken on Date Unknown (circa 2015?), used under the Creative Commons Attribution‑ShareAlike 2.0 Generic license
