Reason for crash, in which Elizabeth Handy died, unclear, inquest hears
The reason for a car crash, in which a popular photographer died, remain unclear, an inquest heard today, Tuesday, August 20.
Elizabeth Handy, 77, of Low Road, Bressingham, died in a four-vehicle collision on the A1066 in Garboldisham in March last year.
Mrs Handy and her husband Charles, 87, were travelling back from London, when their BMW collided with a Seat Ibiza at the junction of Smallworth Lane at around 8.10am.
Mr Handy, who was driving the car, then swerved onto the opposing carriageway and collided with an oncoming Land Rover Freelander.
The Land Rover then collided with a Mercedes Sprinter van.
Mrs Handy, who at the time of the accident was asleep in the passenger seat, was pronounced dead at the scene.
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The inquest at Norfolk Coroner's Court heard how Mrs Handy drove until Newmarket before her husband took over as she was tired.
Forensic collision investigator PC Paul McKay said in his report that Mr Handy failed to identify the slow moving vehicles ahead, most likely explained by a "period of inattention, distraction or possibly sleep-related".
He also stated that no vehicles had mechanical defects which would have contributed to the cause of the collision.
No traces of alcohol or drugs were found in the blood or saliva of the drivers involved in the collision and Mr Handy later surrendered his licence.
Mr Handy, who had been living in Bressingham with his wife for more than 46 years, told police how he had momentarily looked down to check the time.
A post-mortem examination concluded that Mrs Handy died of multiple injuries, including left-sided chest injuries and laceration of the heart.
The driver of the Land Rover sustained "quite severe injuries".
Speaking at the inquest, coroner Yvonne Blake said: "I thank PC McKay for his hard work and my condolences go out to all her family."
The coroner concluded that Mrs Handy died as a result of a road traffic collision.
