A coroner has heard the tragic details of how a 90-year-old driver fatally injured an 85-year-old great-grandmother in a supermarket car park, before driving off to collect a new pair of glasses.
A Fatal Reversal in the Car Park
The incident occurred in August 2023 in the car park of a Waitrose store in Colchester, Essex. Colin Kirby-Green, then 88, reversed his Kia into Patricia Jepson as she was pushing a shopping trolley. The impact caused catastrophic injuries, and Mrs Jepson was airlifted to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, where she died nine days later.
Instead of stopping at the scene to check on the fatally wounded pensioner, Mr Kirby-Green drove away. The inquest heard he proceeded directly to a Specsavers opticians to pick up a new prescription for his glasses.
A Trial of Facts and a Legal Discharge
Criminal charges, including causing death by dangerous driving, were initially brought against Kirby-Green. However, they were dropped after he was deemed unfit to stand trial due to a diagnosis of advanced dementia. A subsequent trial of facts was held at Ipswich Crown Court in July to establish only the physical acts of the case.
The jury found that he had committed acts amounting to dangerous driving. Nevertheless, due to his severe dementia, the judge, Martyn Levett, had no choice but to give Kirby-Green an absolute discharge. Other charges, including failing to stop and report the collision, were also dropped.
Unreported Health Issues and Failed Eyesight Test
Coroner Michelle Brown outlined several concerning factors. She revealed that Kirby-Green had recently undergone cataract surgery and was still wearing his old, pre-operation glasses at the time of the accident. He only collected his new, correct prescription after the fatal collision.
Furthermore, the coroner stated that arthritis in his neck prevented him from turning his head properly to reverse, a medical condition he had never reported to the DVLA. He admitted to relying solely on his mirrors for manoeuvres.
When police visited his home after the incident, he failed an eyesight test, unable to read a number plate from the required 20-metre distance. He also refused to complete the test using the glasses he was wearing during the accident.
Concluding the inquest, Mrs Brown offered her sympathies to the families of both Mrs Jepson and Mr Kirby-Green, describing it as "a very sad set of circumstances." She noted that had he been fit for trial, the outcome would likely have been different.
The victim's granddaughter, Danielle Diamond, paid a moving tribute, saying: "She was the hero of our family. She was funny, she had a great sense of humour... All I wanted was for him to come forward and say, 'I made a mistake'. I want people to know what an amazing woman he took."
