A horrified mum says she shouted stop as a pensioner made a desperate last-ditch run for safety before he was struck by a police car.
The 84-year-old was crossing the road, close to the Three Stags pub junction in Spital, Wirral, when the accident happened.
The pedestrian, who is now seriously hurt in hospital, didn't realise the danger until "the police car hit him," shocked witnesses said.
One witness told how she heard the man was walking to nearby Clatterbridge Hospital to visit a sick friend or relative.
Today, one woman, who saw the crash happen, described her horror as the man, who appeared to be walking alone, moved into the road at a pedestrian crossing.
The mum, who was with her young daughter in a pram at the time, on Spital Road, told the ECHO: "There were temporary traffic lights on the road.
"Cars were backed up on his side and he seemed unable to see the lights were on green.
"He'd pressed the crossing button.
"I looked to the right and saw the police car down the road making a turn.
"When I looked back, I saw this man waving [in thanks] to a normal car who was letting him go.
"He walked across, looked to the left, and tried to make a run for it.
"I shouted, "Stop!" but he didn't seem to realise."
Another woman said the man, who was wearing jogging pants, had just got off the train at Spital station.
He asked for directions for the cancer hospital.
The witness added: "I feel for the police driver.
"It's an accident, there was no fault on anybody.
"It was upsetting to see, you play the scenario in your head, and I keep hearing the noise of the collision.
"I closed my eyes when he struck the police car."
Photos from the scene revealed how the front windscreen of the police car was smashed and had almost caved in by the impact.
Horrified shopkeepers told how they came running out of their premises when the accident happened.
One woman said she saw the victim, lying in the road, who looked "very badly hurt."
For around the 10 minutes, the man seemed motionless, but afterwards he appeared to be moving one or both of his legs.
An air ambulance landed in the grounds of Poulton Lancelyn Primary School and was used to rush the man to hospital.
The incident was yesterday referred to the police watchdog because of the involvement of a patrol vehicle.
A huge emergency response was sent to the scene, near the junction with Church Road, at around 11.15am, on Wednesday morning, with as many 13 police vehicles parked up nearby.
Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to tweet @MerPolCC or ring 101, quoting ref. 316 of 8/1/20 or tweet @CrimestoppersUK, or telephone anonymously on 0800 555 111.
