KEY POINTS:
A pedestrian who died after being struck by a bus may have stumbled into its path because the pavement had been dug up for roadworks, a neighbour has claimed.
The neighbour, who arrived at the scene shortly after the tragedy, said he believed the scene was "set up for an accident".
Chinese visitor Rongfa Jiang, 53, died in hospital after being struck near the Dominion Rd and St Albans Ave intersection at 7.30am on Wednesday.
Yesterday, police spent more than three hours interviewing the bus driver, a 44-year-old man who has been in the job for eight months.
The driver is said to have stopped a short distance past the scene, got out, looked back towards the injured man and then continued driving. He has told police he was unaware the accident had occurred.
Ed Muir, who runs a storage depot just metres from the scene of the fatality, believes the accident may have occurred because of roadworks.
Tall trees lining Dominion Rd had been removed and the footpath dug up the day before the accident. He thinks loose stones and debris may have caused Mr Jiang to trip and fall.
Mr Muir said the area was strewn with rubble.
"He was lying on stones. There wasn't any tarseal at all."
The footpath, on the city-bound side of Dominion Rd, was resealed the next day, Mr Muir said.
He said Mr Jiang did not speak much English but described him as a "nice guy with a pleasant look for you on his face".
Mr Jiang's son, Hao Jiang, 22, said he was not sure what had happened, "only what the police have told me".
He was being supported by friends and workmates and was awaiting his mother's arrival from China.
Auckland Tramways Union president Gary Froggatt said the bus driver was "extremely upset" and was on stress leave.
"He's spending time with his family."
He described the driver as "quiet and unassuming", with an "absolutely clean record".
He had had a heavy traffic licence since 2001.
The accident occurred on New Zealand's busiest bus route, with more than 50,000 people transported along Dominion Rd by Stagecoach every week.
The bus is back in service.
