Joanna Reyes. Pic: PMA London on Twitter

A singer tipped for West End glory has tragically died after being hit by a car in Limehouse.

Joanna Reyes, 37, was leaving a show rehearsal in Shoreditch at 11.30pm on Thursday night when a driver veered into the traffic island on Commercial Road and ran her over.

She was pronounced dead at the scene.

A 44-year-old man, who was driving a white Range Rover sport, was arrested on the scene under suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and taken to an east London police station.

“There is nothing words can say at this moment to soften this tragic early loss of a beautiful life,” said her agent Linda Bradley. “The theatre world, our religion, has lost a huge beauty and talent.”

Reyes graduated from City Academy Musical Theatre five years ago before she joined the Musical Theatre Company, with whom she played the lead role of Joanne Jefferson in Dick Whittington at Sadler’s Wells.

She was recently signed to talent agency PMA London after making her West End debut as Miss Flanagan in Thoroughly Modern Millie at the Adelphi Theatre in March this year.

She had been rehearsing at Shoreditch’s City Academy for a production of Urinetown, a satirical comedy musical, before the fatal accident.

She also worked as a receptionist and co-ordinator of night courses at the Urdang Academy in Islington, where flowers were laid in tribute to the singer.

Managing director Solange Urdang told The Evening Standard that Reyes’ death was an “absolute tragedy” and praised her “bubby personality and amazing kindness”.

She said: “Our staff, ex-staff, students and ex-students are absolutely devastated by Joanna’s death.”

Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Serious Collision Investigation Unit are appealing for witnesses to come forward.