The first pictures have today emerged of a married father-of-two, killed in a suspected road rage murder in an M&S car park after being ‘mowed down by a BMW following a row outside the store’ in a leafy Surrey commuter town.
Matthew ‘Tik’ Tester, a scaffolding company boss, has been named locally as the victim of the attack, which sparked a huge response from police and ambulance crews in Walton-on-Thames yesterday afternoon.
A 26-year-old man, arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder, remains in police custody today.
Friends remembered Mr Tester as a ‘brilliant guy’ and an ‘inspiration’ as tributes flooded in from neighbours and members of a local ‘chopper club’ following the tragedy, which struck just days before his 50th birthday.
One wrote: ‘It is an absolute shock, great person, thoughts go out to his wife and daughters.’
Another added: ‘No words can express how shocking and tragic this devastating event is.’
The 49-year-old leaves behind wife Kim, who is listed on Companies House as a director of his Sunbury Scaffold Services business, and daughters Maddy and Pippa.
Matthew ‘Tik’ Tester, a scaffolding company boss, has been named locally as the victim of the attack, which sparked a huge response from police and ambulance crews in Walton-on-Thames yesterday afternoon
The 49-year-old leaves behind wife Kim, pictured together, and daughters Maddy and Pippa
Officers were called to an M&S car park on Church Street in Walton-on-Thames at 2.15pm yesterday afternoon after 999 was called because of an ‘altercation between a group of men’
The tributes come after a desperate call was made to police as a disagreement outside the M&S store on Church Street dramatically escalated, and resulted in a car slamming into two men at around 2.15pm.
Emergency services rushed to the supermarket loading bay, but efforts to save Mr Tester failed and he was declared dead at the scene.
Another man had to be airlifted to hospital with serious injuries – but he is expected to recover.
The owner of the vehicle was handcuffed and led away by police and remains in custody today.
Meanwhile, a local church has today invited those who saw the tragedy to pray and seek ‘refuge’.
Jonny Blair, vicar of St Mary’s Church in the town told GetSurrey: ‘The church is open for people if they have witnessed the incident, or if they have lost a loved one, the church is open for private prayer 9.30am to 2.30pm so they can find a refuge and a place of prayer if they want to.
‘If people have witnessed something I can imagine it being quite an ordeal, not to mention the families of those involved, so absolutely we will be available to those who wish to contact the church and we will be praying for them in the coming days.
‘Both for those whether directly involved or whether witnesses, as that is traumatic in itself.’
The supermarket car park was yesterday closed although the M&S store continued trading as normal while officers swarmed the area and experts tried to establish what had happened.
A spokesman said: ‘We would respectfully request that you avoid this area if possible while we continue to carry out further enquiries.’
Detective Chief Inspector Dave Springett said it was understandable the death would ’cause a lot of concern’.
Surrey Police said a man died at the scene and another was airlifted to hospital with serious injuries after a driver got into his white 1 series BMW and drove at two of the men in the group
The car park was closed yesterday although the M&S store continued trading as normal while officers swarmed the area and experts tried to establish what had happened
The owner of the vehicle has been arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder – as the second man is expected to recover
Markings showed key locations where evidence was left as investigations continue into the death
Police flocked to the scene as investigations into how a man died continued yesterday evening
He added: ‘From our initial enquiries, it appears that an altercation has taken place, leading to a physical confrontation, which then resulted in one of the group getting into his car and driving at two of the other men.
‘Tragically, this has resulted in the death of one man and left another seriously injured and our thoughts are with their family and friends at this extremely difficult time.’
‘To assist the investigation, I would encourage anyone who has any information, particularly anyone who witnessed the incident, or anyone who has any mobile phone or dashcam footage, to come forward, quoting incident reference PR/P21083894.’
Earlier today traffic news service INRIX said: ‘A3050 Church Street in both directions closed, very slow traffic due to accident investigation work from High Street to Sidney Road. The road has been closed for investigation following an accident near the post office.’
