We’ll never know why OAP walked into path of car

Aug 8 2008 by Liam Murphy, Liverpool Daily Post

AN ELDERLY man died 10 weeks after he was hit by a car at a pedestrian crossing, an inquest heard.

Charles Davies, 88, from Harvest Road, in Moreton, suffered multiple injuries after he was struck by the green Honda Shuttle.

An inquest at Wallasey Town Hall heard that, on the day of the crash, Tuesday, January 15, 2008, Mr Davies had walked into the road without activating the crossing near the junction of Pasture Road and Pasture Avenue.

In a statement read out to the hearing, telecoms engineer Mark O’Brien, who was sitting in his parked car outside the Moreton Arms pub opposite, told the hearing that he heard a car skid and looked up to see it swerving but just clip Mr Davies.

The victim was thrown several metres and suffered multiple fractures, and, despite 10 weeks’ treatment at Arrowe Park, contracted pneumonia and died on March 28.

Craig Warmisham, who was driving an Age Concern minibus, parked his vehicle to block the road and gave first aid to the elderly Mr Davies.

In his statement to the inquest, he said “a man nearby was upset” and when asked said he was the driver. Mr Warmisham said: “He said the lights were on green and the guy just walked out into the road.”

PC James Martindale, of Merseyside Police’s collision investigation unit, told the inquest it was difficult to estimate the speed of the collision but based on available evidence and reasonable assumption worked out the Honda had been travelling at between 17-23mph.

He said checks had established the vehicle had no defects which would have contributed to the collision.

Wirral Coroner Christopher Johnson said it appeared Mr Davies either thought he had enough time to cross the road without the puffin crossing, or had not seen the vehicle approaching. He said: “Tragically, we will never know.”

Mr Johnson recorded a narrative verdict that “the deceased died from injuries he sustained when as a pedestrian crossing a road he was in collision with a motor car”.

liammurphy