TWO men have recalled the moment their friend was knocked down and killed by a police car on a 999 call as he crossed a main road.

Farid Sarwari, pictured below, died shortly after being hit by the car which had its blue lights on, and then a second vehicle, at the junction of Bucknall New Road and Potteries Way in Hanley.

Witnesses have told how the police car reached speeds of up to 40mph in the 30 zone as officers responded to reports of a burglary.

The 25-year-old student suffered a fractured skull and was pronounced dead in hospital.

Now a jury inquest is being held in Hanley this week into the circumstances of Mr Sarwari's death at around 8pm on March 18, 2006.

The inquest heard how Mr Sarwari, of Hanley, had been walking from Bucknall New Road towards the bus station with friends Sadq Soltani and Mikail Calhan.

Mr Soltani, of Hanley, said he was using Mr Sarwari's mobile phone as the three approached the traffic lights and pedestrian crossing to get across Potteries Way.

He could not remember whether the green man was lit to indicate it was safe to cross, although Mr Calhan warned their friend not to cross.

Mr Soltani said: "Mikail warned Farid not to move.

"I saw the police car hit Farid and throw him up to the side of the street. There was another car coming towards Cobridge and the car hit him."

In a statement Mr Calhan said he had seen the police car approaching.

He said: "Farid stepped on the road when me and Sadq were approaching the traffic lights and started to cross the road.

"I think he must have thought he could outrun the police car and cross the road, because he started to run."

"The police car hit Farid and I saw he was thrown up into the air."

Witnesses recalled hearing and seeing flashing blue lights and a siren.

Motorist Philip Knight, of Hillside Road, Werrington, said he saw all three men trying to cross the road before two of them turned back and the third was hit.

He said: "If it wasn't for the police car coming down, all three would have crossed safely."

Mr Sarwari came to England from Afghanistan in 2002.

The inquest heard he was worried about the state of his mind after sustaining injuries to his face three months before his death.

The inquest continues.