Woman died after being struck by van while crossing road - inquest

Patricia Bedford was hit by a blue Volkswagen Transporter when crossing Dewsbury Road near Lupset with her dog in October last year.

Assistant Coroner John Hobson was told 74-year-old widow Mrs Bedford had been visited by her daughter Lisa Ashman and grandson Luke on Wednesday, October 28, 2015.

After a meal together, Mrs Bedford walked the pair to the bus stop opposite her home on Dewsbury Road so they could return to Wakefield city centre.

The family took Mrs Bedford’s dog with them.

But the inquest heard the Jack Russell became increasingly distressed by fireworks which were being set off in the area.

Mrs Bedford said goodbye to her family and decided to take her pet home.

In a statement Ms Ashman said she and Luke were looking out for the bus in the direction of Ossett when they heard a “thud”.

Ms Ashman said: “I saw my mum lying at the side of the road on the grass verge. I was screaming.”

Van driver Martin Ong told the hearing of the moment he spotted Mrs Bedford.

He said:”One minute there was a group of people on my right hand side at the bus stop and the next minute, there was a thud and I saw a blur in front of the window.

“I stopped straight away. I looked in my mirror and there was a dog running off.”

Neighbours called emergency services to the scene at around 6.15pm but Mrs Hobson was pronounced dead at 6.44pm.

She suffered multiple fractures and died as a result of her injuries.

James Viney, a collision investigator at West Yorkshire Police said he was satisfied there were no defects to the road surface or van which could have contributed to the crash.

The inquest was also told that Mr Ong’s breathalyser test came back negative and damage to his van suggested he was driving at around 20 to 25 mph.

Mr Hobson recorded a verdict of death “as a result of a road traffic collision”.