Collision victim 'like a rag doll'

A pensioner was flung up to 30ft in the air after being hit by a driver as he tried to cross the road in Pelsall, an inquest heard.

John Challinor suffered fatal multiple fractures after being thrown like a "rag doll" following the collision with a Honda Civic car in Norton Road, Pelsall, on November 16 last year.

The 80-year-old grandfather had been to the Londis shop in the village to buy some milk when he was struck by the car.

An inquest at Walsall Manor Hospital yesterday heard driver Alastair Page was estimated to be over the speed limit. However, no criminal charges have ever been brought against him.

Van driver Phillip James of Hednesford was travelling along Norton Road towards Pelsall when Mr Page, now aged 27, cut in front of him from High Street and "accelerated quite severely."

He said: "I heard the impact then saw what I can only describe as like a rag doll cartwheeling in the air 20-30ft high."

Pc Mark Dixon, from the collision investigation team, said the vehicle was travelling at least between 32-38mph. He added the driver's view would have been obscured by parked cars and a pedestrian refuge, and it would have been difficult to stop.

Mr Dixon said Mr Challinor, a retired council rent collector and member of St Michael's Church, may have misjudged the car when crossing in the direction of Pelsall Common. Mr

Page attended yesterday's hearing but declined to comment.

However a police statement made by Mr Page from Pelsall was read out at the inquest. It said: "It just happened so fast. It was just a terrible, terrible accident. I was doing no more than 30mph if that."

Black Country coroner Robin Balmain said he thought the estimated speed was an underestimate and believed Mr Challinor, who left behind wife Beryl, two children and two grandchildren, could have been seen in time.

He added although he felt the driving fell below that of a careful and competent driver he declined a ruling of unlawful killing and rec-orded a verdict of death due to a road traffic collision.