A SCHOOL administrator told an inquest of the moment she reversed into a pensioner in the car park of a Pendle school.

Anne-Marie Beech, described feeling ‘totally confused’ when she realised she had hit 78-year-old Christopher Alan Preston with her Volkswagen Golf in the grounds of Barnoldswick’s St Joseph’s RC School.

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Yesterday, an inquest heard how Mr Preston, who was known as Alan to his friends, died after fracturing his skull as a result of a fall caused by being hit by the car on November 16.

The former ship commander and magistrate had been helping his neighbour Jeffrey Ashworth transport a Life Education trailer to the West Close Road school at around 4pm when the accident happened.

But East Lancashire Senior Coroner Richard Taylor was told when they arrived at the car park it was full.

Instead they left the trailer being towed by Mr Ashworth’s Land Rover Defender on the double yellow lines at the front of the school.

The pair then went inside to ask for cars to be moved and were met by caretaker Stephen Demain, Mrs Beech and deputy headteacher Kathryn Henderson.

All five walked into the car park to work out which vehicles needed to be moved.

Weeping in the witness stand, Mrs Beech told the inquest at Burnley Magistrates Court: “Whereas me and Mr Ashworth were walking around various parts of the car park, he (Mr Preston) was just stood gazing perhaps where the trailer would park.

“I said ‘I don’t need an excuse to go on time’.

“I got in to my vehicle parked front ways into the space.

“I can’t picture where Mr Preston was when I got in to my car.

“I looked in my mirrors before reversing, looked all around me and then proceeded to reverse from my parking space.

“I couldn’t have gone more than eight feet or something like that and all I remember is hearing a bump and hearing voices shouting for me to stop.

“I don’t know which came first. I do remember someone shouting for me to move forward.

“I don’t remember if I did move forward or not.

“I was totally confused then because I couldn’t understand what I had hit.

“When I got out of the car I notice Mr Preston lying on the floor. I didn’t see him at all.”

PC Jason Colclough, from the police’s collision investigation team, said the car’s brakes and steering were working perfectly and visibility was fine.

He said in-vehicle tests showed there were no obstructions stopping Mrs Beech Mr Preston, of Church Lane, East Marton.

Mr Demain said: “When Mrs Beech started reversing she started coming slowly back.

“I saw Alan’s feet under the back wheel of the car.

“I’m not sure if it was me or everybody else who shouted could she drive the car forward.

“She drove the car forward and he fell back and he hit his head.

“As soon as his feet were released he toppled back. It was all one action. As soon as I saw that he had hit his head I called for an ambulance.”

After being airlifted to Royal Preston Hospital Mr Preston died at 10.30pm on the day of the collision.

A post mortem carried out at Royal Blackburn Hospital by Dr Deepa Jacob, revealed Mr Preston died of a fractured skull and subdural haemorrhaging caused by a fall.

PC Colclough told the inquest: “I investigated why Mr Preston didn’t see the moving car and why Mrs Beech couldn’t see Mr Preston. I can’t answer either question.”

Mr Taylor ruled the incident was ‘terrible for all involved’ and recorded a verdict of accidental death.

Mr Preston’s wife Jenny described her husband, who was born in Barrowford and attended Barrowford Primary and Colne Grammar School, as a devoted family man who would ‘do anything for anyone’.

As well as his wife he leaves behind sons Simon, Tim and Jason, and grandchildren Holly, Amelia and Charlotte.

Mr Taylor said: “This is a terrible case for the family and a terrible incident for Mrs Beech herself and indeed to those who also witnessed it.”