A HEARTBROKEN son of the pensioner killed when his mobility scooter was involved in a horrific crash said it had been a tragedy waiting to happen.

David McDermott told how he had been with his father, Michael McDermott, previously when they had near misses with speeding vehicles at the same spot.

Mr McDermott, 70, died at the scene after his mobility scooter was in collision with a black Seat Leon, as he crossed Leeds Road, near to Thornbury Avenue, on Friday lunchtime.

Mr McDermott, affectionately known as Micky Mack, was on his way home when he was hit. The impact hurled him 15 feet into the road and left his scooter embedded in the front of the car. Two young Asian men were seen to get out of the car and flee the scene.

Mr McDermott, a father-of-seven, who originated from Ireland, settled in Bradford more than 30 years ago.

One of his sons, David, speaking from his home in Dublin, said he had visited his father regularly and had witnessed bad driving.

He said: "What happened to dad doesn't surprise me after what I have seen. I have been with him when he was trying to cross on his scooter at the same place and a car came speeding up and just about managed to stop. It must have been doing 50mph. It screeched up with the brakes full on, or it would have hit us."

Mr McDermott said his father had a regular routine which he had been following on the day he died.

"He would go to the post office to collect his money. Then he would go to the Ginny [the New Virginia Tavern in Rushton Road] to pay his dominoes subs and have a chat with his pals. After that he did his shopping and rode his scooter back home.

"That morning he had been to the post office and the pub as usual and was making his way back when it happened."

He described his father as an "amazing man."

Mr McDermott, 47, said his dad suffered from an illness which caused fluid to build up in his legs and his weight to increase and he had to have bandages on his legs changed by a nurse two or three times a week.

"It started after he was injured at work. He was in pain every day, but he still kept a smile on his face.

"He arranged his own funeral two or three years ago because of the illness," he said.

"He was well known in the area, popular and much loved. He was happy in Bradford. He will be sadly missed by his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, family and friends both in Ireland and England.

"He was a good and decent man, who was always jolly. He never judged anyone or looked down on anybody. He worked all his life and never took from anyone in any way. I only hope that the person that took his life and left him in the road to die, realises what he has taken from us."

He said his father had worked in the plastering and building trade, and had worked for himself, living in the Holme Wood area. He was twice married, with three sons in Ireland and four children in the UK, and had a tight-knit, loving family.

He more recently lived in sheltered accommodation at Derby Place, Laisterdyke.

His son added: "I want to thank the staff and his nurse for all the care they have given him over the years, and his sister, Margaret, who has done so much for him for so long."