Staffordshire grandmother's death 'a tragic accident'

Anita Hatton was hit by a Mercedes about a mile from her home as she attempted to cross Birmingham Road, in Shenstone Wood End, Lichfield, Cannock Coroner's Court heard.

The 82-year-old, who had celebrated her birthday a fortnight beforehand, died at the scene after suffering chest injuries.

Driver of the car, Dr Daryl Brown, who is headmaster of Maple Hayes Hall School, a dyslexia school in Lichfield, told the inquest it had been very dark and all he saw was a 'patch of lightness' at his right hand side just before the fatal collision at the junction with Footherley Lane.

A police investigation ruled that Dr Brown would not have seen Mrs Hatton until the collision was inevitable.

The inquest was told that Mrs Hatton had been diagnosed with dementia in recent years and would sometimes take short walks alone.

The accident happened at around 4.50pm on December 18 last year.

Giving evidence, Dr Brown said he had been bringing his son back from college and had driven the route on a number of occasions.

He told the inquest that traffic had been busy and it was dark.

Recalling the incident, he said: "It was very, very short.

"I saw this patch of lightness to my right and then Anita was right in front of me."

Describing the scene, Dr Brown added: "It was very, very dark. There was an edge of moisture in the air and on the road surface.

"It was a very, very busy evening."

The inquest heard that one witness to the accident first thought something had fallen from a lorry, before realising there was a body in the road.

She said the windscreen on the Mercedes had shattered and rushed to try and help by diverting traffic.

She said Mrs Hatton's legs looked deformed and thought they were broken.

The witness, who had been driving home from work, said the silver Mercedes had not been travelling too fast before the collision.

Sgt Steve Deall, collision investigator for Staffordshire Police, said the vehicle did not have any defects when examined and had been travelling in the correct lane.

He told the inquest there was no evidence to suggest Dr Brown had been speeding.

Sgt Deall said Mrs Hatton had walked around 16ft into the carriageway before getting hit, but added: "It is clear the driver did not see the pedestrian until a collision was inevitable."

Sgt Deall said he had arrived at the scene at around 6.20pm.

He said: "When I arrived the weather was dry.

"The road surface appeared to be free from any obvious defects."

Sgt Ian Tanner, senior collision investigator at Staffordshire Police, said Mrs Hatton normally had a carer at her home in Mill Court, Shenstone.

But on the day of her death they were away.

He said she sometimes left her home without telling anyone she was leaving.

Sgt Tanner said that due to the road layout and the lighting it would have been 'dangerous' to be in the road at the time of the accident and her dementia may be attributed to why she was trying to cross the road.

South Staffordshire Coroner Andrew Haigh came to the conclusion that Mrs Hatton had died as a result of a 'genuine tragic accident'. Mrs Hatton's family released a statement through Staffordshire Police, which said: "Anita's natural warmth and grace will be sorely missed by her devoted husband, children and grandchildren."