Woman tells of fatal crash

A pregnant Shropshire woman and her seven-year-old son stepped into the road moments before they were knocked down and killed, a court was told today.

Eyewitness Lisa Earl said Sarah Piggott, 42, and her son Simon stepped on to Robertson Way in Shrewsbury before they were hit by a car on June 26. Mrs Piggott was due to be induced the following day.

Christopher Ballantyne, 35, of the Boat House pub, New Street, Shrewsbury, denies careless driving.

Mrs Piggott died as a result of the accident, along with her son. Her unborn child, who was later named Sullivan, also died.

Lisa Earl told Shrewsbury Magistrates Court on the first day of Ballantyne's trial: "I saw a lady and a little boy coming towards me. The little boy was pulling his mother's hand but he was much faster than his mum.

"I could hear a car coming from behind me. They stepped out into the road. The car hit them.

"I could not see the little boy but only the lady get hit from the impact."

Registered general nurse Susan Austin said she was walking her dog with her son Andrew and walked past Mrs Piggott twice.

She said the first time Mrs Piggott was alone.

"I noticed in my opinion that she looked very unwell. Her skin was very pale and her eyes were darkened."

Mrs Austin said the second time she saw Mrs Piggott she was with a boy.

"She seemed to be walking quicker than previously.

"She grabbed his hand and told him to hurry because they were in a rush. She held his hand and walked him forward in a quick way," she added.

Simon's teacher at the Martin Wilson School in Castlefields, Sian Bowdler, broke down in tears as she told a court about the pair's last movements.

She said Mrs Piggott was late picking Simon up from school that day.

She said: "She was exhausted and tired. We had a conversation about that. But she did not look different to the previous two weeks she was overdue and we had a conversation every day saying: 'no news yet?'"

The trial continues.

by Rebecca Lawrence