Lorry driver could not have avoided collision which killed Shropshire pensioner

Ilse Forster, from Church Stretton, was hit by the HGV driven by Geoffrey Stokes as she crossed the A49 in the town without using a pedestrian crossing.

Shropshire coroner John Ellery heard evidence that it was unlikely that Mrs Forster had used the pedestrian crossing in Church Stretton at 7am on November 17 last year and that the signal would have been on red to prevent her crossing at the time anyway.

Mrs Foster's neice, Heather Willis, said the family had spoken to her previously about the need to use the crossing.

She also told Mr Stokes, from Hereford, that her aunt would have been "horrified" at the incident's effect on him.

She said: "The family, Ilse's two children and myself, had more than once asked her to use the crossing. She said she would. She was a very free spirit."

Speaking directly to Mr Stokes, she added: "She would have been absolutely horrified to have done this to you. That is all I can say I am afraid, she would have been horrified."

Mr Stokes had told the coroner he had been driving from Hereford to Telford carrying steel work for a roof when the accident happened.

He said that it was dark at the time of the collision and was raining.

Mr Stones told the inquest, which was held at Shirehall, Shrewsbury, that as he approached the traffic lights at the junction for Sandford Avenue he had moved into the right hand lane of the A49 to avoid a timber lorry which was parked up at a garage.

He said he had initially thought the traffic lights ahead were on red but had realised as he pulled back into the left hand lane that his carriageway was on green so started to accelerate.

The coroner heard that Mr Stokes was travelling between 23 and 25mph on the 30mph road at the time of the collision.

He said: "I braked and then realised I could proceed. I proceeded on, going through the lights then right at the very last minute Mrs Forster is coming from my right. I have seen her right at the very last minute and we have come together."

Mr Stokes stopped his vehicle and ran to Mrs Forster's aid, where she was already being attended to by two other men.

Asked by the coroner if Mrs Forster had crossed at the location of the pedestrian crossing, PC Daniel Yates said: "No, it would not appear to be."

He added: "I spoke to witnesses who said they had seen Mrs Forster cross the junction on previous occasions and she was not using the pedestrian crossing facilities."

After taking evidence from Temporary Sergeant Neil Williams about where Mrs Forster crossed the road, Mr Ellery said: "Someone in that position would have a clear view of the vehicle coming towards them and have a red light telling them not to cross - is that fair?"

Sergeant Williams confirmed that would have been correct.

Recording his conclusion of accidental death, Mr Ellery said: "On the evidence I have heard the collision occurred when Mrs Forster crossed the A49, probably not using the designated crossing area, into the path of Mr Stokes' HGV, which was being driven properly and lawfully and which crucially would have been visible to her, and sadly as a result of the collision she suffered fatal injuries."