A father-of-six who died after colliding with a van as he walked across a zebra crossing at the weekend had been left widowed by a similar road accident, it has been revealed.

Qurban Hussain, 68, died at Bradford Royal Infirmary soon after he was in an accident with a white Citroen van in Toller Lane, Bradford, at 6.50pm on Sunday.

In what has been described as a "horrible coincidence" it has emerged that Mr Hussain's wife was killed trying to cross a road in Bradford about six years ago.

One of Mr Hussain's sons, Azher Hussain, 33, said yesterday: "We are all saddened by what's happened. He was a humble down-to-earth kind of guy and he never upset anyone."

Mr Hussain, a retired textile mill worker who moved to Bradford from Pakistan in the 1960s, had been walking from his home in Farfield Terrace, Heaton, to pray at the Toller Lane Mosque when the incident happened.

The driver of the van, a 44-year-old Bradford man, has been arrested on suspicion of death by dangerous driving and released on police bail pending further inquiries.

Two more vehicles - a Toyota and a Rover - were involved in the collision. All the vehicles stopped at the scene.

The zebra crossing where the incident occurred has been a cause for concern for some years, according to regulars at the mosque, who cross the dual carriageway stretch of Toller Lane to attend prayers.

Councillor Arshad Hussain (Con, Toller) said Bradford Council's West Area Committee had already approved a scheme to replace the zebra crossing with a pelican crossing to improve safety.

"I would urge them to get it done as soon as possible, although it's too late now for one person," said Coun Hussain, who is a distant relative of the bereaved family.

He said: "Some six or seven years ago his wife died in a car crash in Heaton Road. She was also a pedestrian at the time. It's such a horrible coincidence that, a few years later, he is in a car crash as well."

Mohammed Khan, of Westfield Road, who attends the Toller Lane Mosque, said: "He was a down-to-earth and humble person.

"Tragically, five or six years ago he was walking with his wife and she died as well. She was hit by a car and he was not the same again after that. It's tragic for the family.

"Three days before this latest incident I walked down to the mosque with him and crossed at that very same crossing. I don't use that crossing because I know how dangerous it is, but I did that day because he was using it.

"We need traffic lights there, not a zebra crossing, because lots of vulnerable people cross that road - old people and children. They also need a camera to slow traffic down as soon as it gets on the dual carriageway.

"That crossing is an accident blackspot. Traffic in the inside lane stops but then another vehicle keeps going in the outside lane. I was once crossing and had to hold my father back because a car hadn't stopped."

Mahmood Khan Shad, of Heaton Park Road, who also attends the mosque, said: "A pelican crossing would be much better than a zebra crossing, then drivers would be able to see the lights.

"There have been lots of concerns about this crossing before."

Inspector Melanie Siddall, of Bradford North Police, said: "We have had one arrest in relation to the incident. He is a local man arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

"We have a number of witnesses but we would still appeal for anyone with information who can assist to contact police."

The road was cordoned off for several hours after the incident as police carried out inquiries.

Anyone with information about the incident should call Bradford North Police on (01274) 376059.