Tributes to Clayton-le-Moors fatal crash gran

5:10pm Wednesday 30th April 2008

Comments (3)   Have your say »

By Deborah Lewis »

TRIBUTES have been paid to a pensioner who died after she was struck by a 32-ton truck close to her home.

Friends of 80-year-old Jenny Clarkson spoke of their shock at the death of such "a lively, active and caring woman."

Great-grandma Mrs Clarkson was crossing Whalley Road, Clayton-le-Moors, when she was struck by a tipper wagon turning left into Blackburn Road at the traffic lights near the Hare and Hounds pub .

The impact caused very severe injuries to both her legs.

She underwent emergency surgery at Royal Blackburn Hospital but died a few hours after the accident, on Tuesday evening.

Police have not yet interviewed the driver of the truck, a 44-year-old Burnley man, due to his deep shock, and said it was "too early" to say whether an offence had been committed.

Mrs Clarkson was on her way back from her daily visit to her daughter's house when the accident happened, and was walking to her home at Spring Brook House in Canal Street.

She had lived there for about 10 years, following her second husband's death.

Sandra Hynes is manager of the sheltered housing scheme, whose 30 residents have all been left shocked and upset by the tragedy.

She said: "Jenny was a very well-known and popular resident.

"She was very sprightly and active for her age, you would never have thought she was 80.

"I heard about the accident and went to the scene to speak to police, because I knew Jenny would be walking back around 4pm as she did every day. She was devoted to her family.

"It was an awful shock when police confirmed that it was her who had been hit.

"We are used to people passing on through illness, but this was a tragic accident and completely unexpected."

Spring Brook House resident Joan Burgoyne, 84, said: "Jenny was a very good friend, she was always wanting to help people, and asking if there was anything she could do."

Friend and former cleaner at the scheme Mary Currie, 67, of Victor Street, added: "She was very caring; I was ill with a virus once and she called every single day to ask if I was OK.

"She was a straight-talker and spoke her mind, but she would do anything for anybody."

Mrs Clarkson had celebrated her 80th birthday with a party at Spring Brook House on New Year's Eve.

"She joined in everything," said Mrs Currie, "she was really sociable, although not a good loser at bingo!"

She said Mrs Clarkson, who used to work at the local Broadley's bookbinding company, would be remembered best for being " a very good friend".

Sergeant Pete Sculpher from the road policing unit, said the driver, who works for Percliff Plant Hire in Blackburn, remains in deep shock and will be interviewed after all other witnesses have been spoken to.

Percliff Plant Hire declined to comment.