No explanation for crash which killed Shropshire woman, inquest told

Shropshire Coroner, John Ellery, recorded a conclusion of death due to a road traffic collision at the inquest of Deborah Eileen Liddell, of Tenbury Wells.

Mr Ellery had heard from PC Kerry Waring that Mrs Liddell had died following a collision on the A456 Ludlow Road, at Burford, Tenbury Wells, at around 5.20pm on January 22.

PC Waring said that Mrs Liddell's red Peugeot 206 had crossed the white line on the single carriageway road and had hit a silver Vauxhall Insignia driven by Benjamin Hall.

Mr Ellery was told that Mr Hall was driving home from work towards Stourport-on-Severn while Mrs Liddell was driving towards her home at Tenbury Wells.

In a statement Mr Hall said he recalled a car coming "onto his side of the road" and "giving him no time to react".

He told police the car was heading straight towards him and appeared "to make no attempt to slow down".

Another witness, Diane Hall, who was driving a Mini about 50 yards behind Mr Hall, said it appeared as if the driver of the Peugeot had "yanked" the steering wheel.

PC Waring said there was "no explanation at all", for what had caused the movement.

She told Mr Ellery that medical causes had been ruled out and that no marks were found on the kerb to indicate anything which would have caused the car to deviate from its path.

PC Waring said the movement may have been caused by "some sort of automatism, distraction, or fatigue".

Mr Ellery also heard a statement which indicated that no mechanical faults were found with the vehicle.

Recording his conclusion at Shirehall yesterday Mr Ellery said: "Why Mrs Liddell crossed over to the other side of the road we do not know but I can exclude any deliberate driving and that ties with the opinion of the investigator that, and I quote, "it is highly likely due to one, or a combination of automatism, distraction, or fatigue".A coroner has said there is "simply no explanation" for the cause of a road accident which killed a 56-year-old woman.

Shropshire Coroner, John Ellery, recorded a conclusion of death due to a road traffic collision at the inquest of Deborah Eileen Liddell, of Tenbury Wells.

Mr Ellery had heard from PC Kerry Waring that Mrs Liddell had died following a collision on the A456 Ludlow Road, at Burford, Tenbury Wells, at around 5.20pm on January 22.

PC Waring said that Mrs Liddell's red Peugeot 206 had crossed the white line on the single carriageway road and had hit a silver Vauxhall Insignia driven by Benjamin Hall.

Mr Ellery was told that Mr Hall was driving home from work towards Stourport-on-Severn while Mrs Liddell was driving towards her home at Tenbury Wells.

In a statement Mr Hall said he recalled a car coming "onto his side of the road" and "giving him no time to react".

He told police the car was heading straight towards him and appeared "to make no attempt to slow down".

Another witness, Diane Hall, who was driving a Mini about 50 yards behind Mr Hall, said it appeared as if the driver of the Peugeot had "yanked" the steering wheel.

PC Waring said there was "no explanation at all", for what had caused the movement.

She told Mr Ellery that medical causes had been ruled out and that no marks were found on the kerb to indicate anything which would have caused the car to deviate from its path.

PC Waring said the movement may have been caused by "some sort of automatism, distraction, or fatigue".

Mr Ellery also heard a statement which indicated that no mechanical faults were found with the vehicle.

Recording his conclusion at Shirehall yesterday Mr Ellery said: "Why Mrs Liddell crossed over to the other side of the road we do not know but I can exclude any deliberate driving and that ties with the opinion of the investigator that, and I quote, "it is highly likely due to one, or a combination of automatism, distraction, or fatigue".