Woman died in ‘tragic’ crash

Marjorie Hill, 83, was trapped by her seat belt after the car crashed and overturned, returning from a family day out to Cleethorpes.

Mrs Hill, of Fairway, Ordsall, Retford, suffered multiple injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene on 27th December 2011.

Her son-in-law David Westthorpe, the driver, told the inquest at Lincoln Cathedral Centre he could not explain how he failed to take the right hand bend at Brickyard Corner on Thorndike Way.

The inquest heard that the car hit a chevron and went through a hedge before rolling over and finishing up on its roof in a field.

Mr Westthorpe said: “I remember saying that it wouldn’t be long before we got back to Retford. I saw the chevron when it was about 50 metres away. My speed was no more than 40 mph.”

“All I can remember is running out of control. I can’t offer any explanation for going off the road.”

His wife Sandra Westthorpe, who was sitting behind her mother in the vehicle, described the ‘constant rolling’ of the car.

“I didn’t think was going to stop,” she said. “I just remember screaming.”

Accident investigators found no evidence that Mr Westthorpe had suffered a medical episode or fallen asleep.

West Lincolnshire deputy coroner Paul Smith recorded a verdict of accidental death. He said the collision was a ‘tragic accident’.

“There were no signs of braking or swerving. Mr Westthorpe offers no explanation for the collision. There is no suggestion of any difficulty with the highway and the vehicle was found to have no difficulties which contributed to the collision,” he said.