A 93-YEAR-old man died after being hit by a car as he crossed the road outside his home in Brothers Street, Blackburn.

An inquest heard that the family of Joseph Alan Sheard did not blame 73-year-old driver John Slater, of Selborne Mews, Blackburn, for the accident.

Speaking after the coroner had recorded a verdict of accidental death, the dead man's son Malcolm Sheard, of Park Street, Rishton, said: "There is no way that this gentleman should bear any guilt. We do not blame him at all.

The inquest heard that friends had called to collect Mr Sheard and had parked across the road from his home. As Mr Slater overtook the parked car he collided with Mr Sheard who suffered a fractured skull and died later in Blackburn Royal Infirmary.

Accident investigator PC John Sutcliffe said he estimated the speed of Mr Slater's vehicle at between 24 and 28mph and concluded that neither the driver or the pedestrian had been aware of each other.

Mr Sheard was registered as partially sighted although his son described him as "a very firm and active man."

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