Shrewsbury car park death was tragic accident
A woman in her 70s died after being hit by her husband's car moments before they were about to enjoy a night at the theatre, an inquest heard.
Elizabeth Marylyn Bevan Booth was standing in Frankwell car park in Shrewsbury as her husband Alfred repositioned their car in a parking bay before they went to Theatre Severn.
But his foot slipped from the brake on to the accelerator and the car reversed into his wife. Mrs Booth, 78, died of her injuries on the way to hospital. Her death was described as a tragic accident at her inquest.
The couple, from Harlescott in Shrewsbury, had been married for more than 50 years and were regular theatre-goers.
Coroner John Ellery said: "She died after an accident on the evening of March 28.
"She and her husband Alfred Booth were going to Theatre Severn and they parked in Frankwell car park.
"It appears that Mr Booth may have parked too far backwards in his parking bay and wanted to move forward and clear the back section of the bay.
"By that time Mrs Booth had got out of the vehicle and Mr Booth was in the process of moving forward.
"His foot slipped off the brake and onto the accelerator and with it being an automatic car in question – going to a forward gear you go through the reverse gear – it slipped off the brake, he was in reverse.
"Tragically he reversed in to Mrs Booth who was then at the back of the car, both of them expecting it to go forward.
"An ambulance was called and she was taken by ambulance on her way to hospital but sadly she died in the ambulance on route to hospital."
The inquest heard Mrs Booth died at about junction seven of the M54.
Mr Ellery added: "It was a tragic death."
Speaking at the inquest, Constable Ross Cookson of West Mercia Police's operational patrol unit for Shrewsbury said: "They were familiar with the car park and regularly attend the theatre.
"It was a case of repositioning the vehicle from its initial position which is how the accident came about."
Mr Ellery said: "She died of multiple injuries.
"The facts here are clear. I record that the death was on March 28 in an ambulance on route to hospital at junction seven of the M54.
"Mrs Booth died as a result of a collision with a vehicles so my conclusion is that she died from a road traffic collision."
Speaking after the inquest, Constable Cookson added: "It was a tragic accident.
"It is so sad that after so many years of marriage that it ended how it did."
