Body Found in Suspected Hit & Run

Police are appealing for information following the discovery of a body on the B1000 Welwyn Road yesterday morning.

The dead man has been identified as as 66-year-old David Alderson, also known locally as 'the penny man', from Broadwater Crescent in Welwyn Garden City. He was found by a cyclist at 6.50am yesterday on the side of the road leading to Welwyn Garden City.

Investigations into the incident have led officers to believe the death was caused by a collision with a vehicle anytime between the evening of Tuesday, July 26 and the early hours of Wednesday, July 27.

The B1000 was closed between 7am and 1pm whilst officers carried out investigations at the scene, alongside Scenes of Crime Officers.

Inspector Andy Piper from the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Road Policing Unit said: "Specialist officers from my team, alongside detectives from the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit, have been carrying out thorough investigations into David’s tragic death.

"We’re trying to piece together David’s last movements. He was last seen at 10am on Tuesday in Welwyn Garden City and I would like to speak to anyone who may have seen him after this time or knows what he may have been doing in Hertford that afternoon or evening.

"Did you see him walking along the B1000? Did you see or hear the collision, or see a vehicle pulled up at the side of the road?

"I would also appeal to the driver of the vehicle to come forward. You may not have realised you had struck a man or had been involved in a collision. While this investigation is in its infancy I would urge you to call police as it would be in your best interest to come forward as soon as possible. You could provide information that could prove vital to this investigation.

"The front of the vehicle may have been damaged as a result of the collision and I’d ask people if they have encountered a vehicle with new front end damage in the last day or two to make contact with police. You may also have encountered someone during this time who appeared to be in a state of shock or distressed about something that may have happened that evening or in the early hours of the morning.

"Anyone with information, however small you think it may be, is asked to contact police immediately via the non-emergency number, 101. Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers, the independent charity, anonymously on 0800 555 111.”