A SHOP owner crashed into a parked car injuring a great-grandmother who was stepping out of the vehicle, a court heard.

Hyndburn magistrates heard that Mary Latham, 80, who was being dropped at her house in Chapel House Road, Nelson, died later in hospital.

Patricia Alcock, 44, of Mount Street, Brierfield, admitted driving without due care and attention and was banned from driving for six months, fined £120 and ordered her to pay £54 costs.

Claire Fanning, prosecuting, said Alcock had been driving a Nissan Cherry in Chapel House Road when the accident happened at 4.55pm on January 28.

Mrs Latham had been out with her family and was being dropped at her house when Alcock's Nissan struck the back of the stationary Peugeot car out of which she was stepping.

The Peugeot probably rolled over Mrs Latham's leg, and she was knocked to the ground, said Miss Fanning.

"Mrs Latham suffered a broken ankle and was in hospital for a few days before she succumbed to her injuries and died eight days later," said Miss Fanning. The cause of death was a blood clot caused by the accident, she said.

A witness driving in the other direction said she had flashed her lights at an oncoming van which was in front of Alcock's car.

The motorist said Alcock may have misinterpreted her gesture as she then proceeded to turn right and accelerated, inexplicably failing to see the parked car.

The magistrates' clerk said Alcock had been disqualified on a previous occasion for drink-driving.

David Lawson, defending, said Alcock had fully co-operated with the police and a coroner's inquiry.

He described the incident as "a momentary lapse" and said that Alcock, who owned a fish and chip shop in Nelson, had not been speeding.

He said he believed the cause of death to be an embolism which could have happened at any time and said that Mrs Latham "was not a very well lady."

Mrs Latham formerly worked as a nurse at Burnley General Hospital. She was a widow and a member of St John Southworth RC Church, Nelson.

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