Widower died while crossing the road

Friends of an elderly man who died on a busy road last week are calling for it to be made safer.

William McAuley, of Barlow Road, Kilburn, died in a collision with a lorry outside McDonald’s in Kilburn High Road on December 12.

Road works are being carried near the spot where the 82-year-old died.

Close friends Lourdes and Andrew McCarten fear the road works and temporary fencing may have made the street more difficult to cross.

Mrs McCarten said: “I’ll miss him a lot and I am concerned about the road works and the dangers at the junction of the High Road.

“It is not easy for anyone to cross.”

Mr McAuley, known as Bill, was born in Kildare, Ireland, and moved to London in the 1950s.

He married Brigid Delia Loughnane in 1961 and was widowed in 2001. The couple had no children.

Tragedy

The former caretaker suffered a stroke a few years ago, leaving his left leg paralysed, but he continued to be mobile, using his walking frame to get to the High Road where he was frequent visitor.

The devout Catholic attended the Sacred Heart Church in nearby Quex Road and a priest from the church read him his last rites before he died.

Mr McCarten said: “It is very sad how he died just before Christmas, which he always looked forward to.

“He always enjoyed coming round for Christmas lunch.”

A spokeswoman for Camden Council said their thoughts were with Mr McAuley’s family and friends at this sad time.

She added: “Road safety is a significant priority for Camden and any death on the roads of Camden is a tragedy.

“It would be wrong at this stage to enter into speculation about possible causes of the accident in advance of a police investigation.”

Mr McAuley’s funeral will take place at the Sacred Heart Church on January 3 at 12.15pm.

n Witnesses are asked to contact the road death investigation unit on 020 8998 5319.