DETECTIVES believe a man killed in a hit and run may have been struck by a neighbour's car.
Senthilnathan Subramaniam, 56, was delivering newspapers for his son when he was run over in Shepherds Way, Selsdon, at 6.35am on December 20.
This week police said the vehicle was probably being driven by someone living in the road or a visitor.
Mr Subramaniam, who lives a short walk away in Tedder Road, suffered serious head and chest injuries. He was taken to Croydon University Hospital where he died later that morning.
A few minutes before the collision he had collected newspapers from the Spar shop in nearby Freelands Avenue, where his 17-year-old son worked.
Mr Subramaniam had occasionally offered to do his son's paper round so he could get some exercise.
Shop manager Sailendra Patel said: "I'm very shocked by all of this. He was a good natured man, a very pleasant person. I can't understand how it has happened or why someone would do this. None of us can."
After collecting the papers, Mr Subramaniam had been making a delivery in Warren Avenue before walking into Shepherds Way.
The hit-and-run driver left Mr Subramaniam lying in the road with critical injuries. No one had been arrested as the Advertiser went to press.
Mr Patel said: "It was really chucking it down, which wouldn't have helped matters.
"I have been told by people who live in the road that there are often drivers speeding while on their phones in that area.
"I find it very hard to take that no one saw anything and that the driver didn't stop."
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "The area where the collision is believed to have occurred is not used as a cut through, and therefore officers believe the vehicle involved is highly likely to belong to a resident or to a visitor who had reason to attend the area that morning."
A post-mortem examination found that Mr Subramaniam died from multiple crush injuries.
An inquest has been opened and adjourned at Croydon Coroner's Court.
The newsagent where he worked has raised £300 for his family from customers.