Road death driver was over the speed limit
A motorist was over the speed limit when he knocked over and killed a pensioner, a coroner has ruled.
Mr Edwards, who went by his middle name Clive, was hit at around 5.45am while in the middle of the road, crossing to get back to his home on St John's Close.
At his inquest yesterday at Smethwick Council House, it was revealed that the motorist, Christopher Farnell, swerved when he spotted Mr Edwards crossing but could not avoid him.
The inquest heard that after the accident Mr Farnell, from Coseley, was interviewed by police in which he said he may have been travelling over the 30mph speed limit as he believed the limit was 40mph.
But Mr Farnell now disputes that, saying he was still in shock just two hours after the accident and he knew it was a 30 limit. No further action is being taken by officers.
Mr Farnell said he was not in a hurry, and had stopped around 200 yards before the accident while another vehicle turned right.
He said the road was clear but then he saw Mr Edwards, adding: "As soon as I saw him I did my best to miss him, and swerved to the left.
"He was right on top of me when I saw him, he was right in the middle of the road."
After hitting Mr Edwards, the Mondeo crashed into the wall outside the Boatman's Rest pub.
Despite Mr Farnell's evidence, Black Country coroner Robin Balmain ruled that the car was over the limit.
He added: "It's likely neither Mr Edwards or the car driver had perceived the existence of the other until the collision was inevitable."
He recorded death was due to a road traffic collision.
