Grandfather, 84, killed in dash between cars in Wolverhampton
A great-grandfather of four died after being hit by a car as he dashed between traffic to cross a busy road, an inquest heard.
The driver had one second to see 84-year-old Henry McMurtary as he crossed the road in Pendeford between cars queueing in the evening rush hour, according to police experts who reconstructed the scene.
The former Cadbury's maintenance fitter died in New Cross Hospital on February 8, leaving behind three children, four grandchildren, as well as four great-grandchildren.
Black Country coroner Robin Balmain said he would write to Wolverhampton City Council as the death highlighted the potential need for crossing facilities in Blaydon Road. Witnesses described the conditions as dusk shortly before sunset at the time of the accident, about 5.10pm.
Damion Smith, who was a passenger in another car, told the inquest in Smethwick that he saw Mr McMurtary cross the road quickly and that he did not appear to look to his left at the oncoming traffic.
Dominique Morby, the driver of the car that hit Mr McMurtary, was seven months pregnant at the time. She repeatedly broke down in tears at the hearing yesterday. The city council worker said she could not remember seeing anyone walk into the road and recalled a crash into the windscreen and her step-daughter screaming.
She said: "From the moment the accident happened, it's been horrific. I wish I'd seen him."
Mr McMurtary's eldest son Peter, of Thetford, Norfolk, asked Miss Morby questions after she had been questioned by a lawyer acting on behalf of the family. He asked her if she believed her speed was appropriate and added: "We were never looking for retribution; just closure."
Police expert Graham Harrison's reconstruction estimated her speed was between 30 and 35 mph. Mr Harrison, from the Central Motorways Police Group, said: "The driver would not have been able to see the pedestrian from the central hazard line. The pedestrian was dressed in dark clothing. The driver would have had approximately one second to see the pedestrian.
"She started braking as soon as possible. In my opinion, the main cause was pedestrian error."
Coroner Mr Balmain said the medical cause of death was injuries from the collision and gave a verdict that Mr McMurtary was killed in a "tragic accident" in a road traffic collision.
