A retired dental surgeon died after being hit by a car and carried for approximately one mile in Gillingham, Kent. Tom Wallace, 89, was found on Grange Road on Monday, December 29 – far from where the grey Mercedes estate struck him around 12:10pm on the A289 Gads Hill.
Kent Police have charged two men in connection with Wallace's death. Albert Matraxhiu, 28, of Orange Hill Road, Edgware, north London, faces death by dangerous driving. Erald Paci, 29, of Five Way Court, Chatham, Kent, is charged with perverting the course of justice.
The two occupants of the grey Mercedes fled on foot after the vehicle was located near Grange Road. Residents and a postman in the area attempted to help Wallace after finding him.
Court proceedings
Both men appeared at Medway Magistrates' Court on Friday. Neither entered pleas and both were remanded in custody. Their next court appearance is scheduled for Maidstone Crown Court on January 30.
Community tribute
Wallace's family released a tribute through Kent Police, describing him as a «loved member of the community» who «deserved a better end to his life than this.»
The great grandfather had been married for 63 years and was father to three children and grandfather to four. His family said: «Tom Wallace, LDS, RCS Eng had been a dental surgeon in the Medway Towns for all his working life.»
Wallace's community involvement was extensive. «For years he was a bell-ringer at the church on Gillingham Green,» the family said. «He was a Samaritan for many years, raised money for the NSPCC and undertook several European cycling tours to raise funds for Marie Curie.»
He was also an avid sailor. «He sailed his boat up and down the east coast, and across the Channel to France, usually single-handed,» his family recalled.
The family expressed gratitude to those who tried to help: «The residents and postman who tried to help in Grange Road were compassionate and kind. Our thanks and appreciation go out to them.»
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
