A grandfather died after being knocked down by a driver suspected of being in a “high speed” race, an inquest heard.
Dennis Mitellas, 83, was using a pedestrian crossing on the A10 in Enfield when he was struck by a Lexus driven by 23-year-old Adam Konczarek.
The retired tailor, described as “frail and hunched”, suffered devastating injuries in the crash on August 6 last year.
Barnet coroner’s court heard Konczarek is suspected of racing his car against a BMW driven by his friend Miroslaw Wec along the 40mph stretch of road moments before the fatal crash.
Both drivers were summonsed to give evidence but failed to turn up.
Investigating officer Iain Lister told the hearing the Lexus was clocked at 83mph and the BMW at 70mph as they passed a Shell garage.
“They were engaged in some sort of road racing together,” he said. “The footage shows them pass the garage at quite high speeds.”
The officer said Konczarek’s Lexus had slowed by the time he hit Mr Mitellas to a speed of no more than 45mph.
Witness Sam Burgess told the inquest that at about 10pm he saw the pensioner being “clipped” by the BMW before being struck by the Lexus as he crossed the A10 on a green light for traffic.
Police said Konczarek tested positive for cannabis and amphetamines after the crash, but he claimed he had subsequently taken drugs to deal with his shock.
He was arrested and questioned, but neither he nor Wec have faced criminal charges over the incident.
The inquest on Tuesday heard police could not be sure the cars were speeding at the time of the collision.
Coroner Andrew Walker ruled Mr Mitellas died as a result of a road traffic collision. Mr Mitellas’s son Dennis described his father as “kind and generous”.
Joseph Dodman, from lawyers Slater and Gordon, representing the family, said the drivers’ failure to attend court showed “complete disregard”.
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