A man accused of killing a hospital worker in an alleged hit-and-run cycling incident has been charged with manslaughter.
Ermir Loka, 22, is due in court on Wednesday over the death of 72-year-old HR administrator Peter McCombie, who died in hospital after being struck by a bike on his walk home from work.
Mr McCombie suffered serious head injuries in the July 3 collision in Bow Road, Tower Hamlets, as he walked back from his job at the Royal London Hospital.
He was taken for emergency treatment but died from his injuries on July 11.
The cyclist involved in the collision did not stop after the crash and was seen on CCTV abandoning the bike he had been riding, police said.
Earlier this week, Mr McCombie’s family urged the cyclist in the images to contact police.
“It is hard to put into words the effect losing Peter has had on our family”, said his sister Christine. “It is incredibly difficult to process his death.”
Colleagues of Mr McCombie said he had continued to work past the retirement age to help the NHS during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Peter had worked for us since May 2003 and was a well-loved member of the team, with many stories to share”, said Andy Vince, of Barts Health NHS Trust.
“It’s fair to say his work was his life and even during this pandemic, when he could have chosen to stop and stay at home, he continued to come in every day and make sure that he and the team continued to deliver.”
Loka, from Waltham Forest, has been charged with manslaughter and causing bodily harm by wanton or furious driving, the Met said this morning.
He is due to appear at Thames magistrates court on Wednesday morning and has not yet entered any pleas.
