A MAN died of multiple injuries after being run over by a taxi as he lay in the gutter in the early hours of the morning.

An inquest heard that a consultant anaesthetist had stopped to see if he could help Peter John Stappard after spotting him lying half in the road.

But as the medic got out of his car he saw a car run over the man and drag him along the road.

Mr Stappard, 43, who was living at the bail hostel on St Peter Street, Blackburn, was taken to hospital but died as a result of his injuries.

Dr Stephen Mosedale told the inquest he had been working at Royal Blackburn Hospital and was making his way home at about 1am on Saturday April 26. As he turned into Canterbury Street he was drawn to something about 100 yards away.

“It looked like someone half in the road and half on the pavement lying on their side,” said Dr Mosedale. “I parked on the left hand side and started to get out of my car to see if I could offer assistance.”

Dr Mosedale said he saw one car drive round the prone body without stopping but the next vehicle, a taxi driven by a Mr Choudhray, hit Mr Stappard.

The driver of the car following the taxi, Mark Liptrot, of Darwen, also saw the taxi run over Mr Stappard but taxi passenger David Davies was adamant the driver had driven round the man.

Police investigations confirmed that a nearside plastic wheel arch cover had been ripped off the taxi and there were also marks on the underside of the taxi which confirmed there had been impact and an element of dragging.

A post-mortem examination revealed fractures of the pelvis and ribs and the medical cause of death was given as multiple injuries.

Deputy coroner Carolyn Singleton recorded a verdict of accidental death.