Van man failed to see woman as he reversed in Sedgley
A delivery driver knocked down a 90-year-old woman as he reversed along a Black Country road and failed to see her in his mirrors, an inquest heard.
Phyllis Mary Williams was crossing Sandyfields Road in Sedgley when she was struck by the Parcelforce van on July 26 last year, the coroner's court heard.
She was airlifted to Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital but died later that day.
At yesterday's inquest, Patrick Lennon, who had been driving the red Mercedes van, said he had simply not seen Mrs Williams when he reversed into the road.
Black Country coroner Robin Balmain said he couldn't understand how he missed her in his mirrors and described the case as a 'tragedy for everyone involved'. He said Mrs Williams died as a result of a road traffic collision.
The inquest heard that Mr Lennon, aged 44, who lives in Weoley Castle, had started his delivery job at 7.15am. He missed a turn-off to Dingle View in Sedgley and ended up reversing along Sandyfields Road.
At the same time Mrs Williams, a widow, was heading from her home on Sandyfields Road to an appointment at her optician's.
He told police afterwards that he 'heard a thud' and saw Mrs Williams' 'legs underneath the back of the van'. Mrs Williams' son-in-law Steven Jackson, said: "She was a remarkable 90-year-old. She was losing her hearing but she looked after herself."
