Inquest: Motorcyclist saw “flash of red” as pensioner Elsie Watson drover her mobility scooter in front of him on Hoburne Lane, Christchurch

A motorcyclist told an inquest he saw a “flash of red” before a 90-year-old woman on a mobility scooter pulled out in front of him on a busy road.

Peter Wootten, a motorcycle instructor, said Elsie Watson had “come across me so quickly it [her scooter] was there, it gave me absolutely no chance whatsoever”.

Speaking at Bournemouth Coroners’ Court, Mr Wootten told how he desperately braked and tried to take evasive action to avoid the pensioner who was returning to her home in Mallard Close, Christchurch, when the accident happened at arounf 11am on 30th January last year.

But he smashed straight into her, throwing the scooter and her up into the air, according to a driver who saw the crash at the junction of Hoburne Lane and Primrose Way.

The pensioner, a retired chemist assistant, suffered multiple injuries and despite efforts from passers-by and paramedics to save her, she died at the scene.

Her son Alan Watson said in a statement he was alerted to the accident and rushed to the road where he found his mother in the back of an ambulance. He said: “She was unconscious. I gave her a kiss before she went to hospital – then I was told she had passed.”

Mr Wootten, who was also injured in the crash, said he could not recall many of the details about it but said he had spotted Mrs Watson’s scooter on the pavement of Hoborne Lane as he was riding along the road.

The inquest heard how two motorists had seen her waiting to cross the road where there was a dropped curb.

Mr Wootten said after seeing her he had “concentrated on what was going on in front of me, as you should” but he then saw the flash of red as she rode her scooter in front of his path.

He said he had tried to brake but “there was insufficient time” to bring his motorbike to a stop. He said his next memory was of lying in the road.

Motorist Claire Harrison told the hearing she had been driving in the opposite direction to Mr Wootten when she noticed Mrs Watson’s scooter approach the crossing.

She said: “She looked like she was going to cross. I saw the bike coming down the hill. I did look at her speed and thought ‘Oh My goodness she is going to go!’.”

Ms Harrison said she slowed down because she feared the pensioner was going to drive in front of her.

She said she then saw Mrs Watson “look in the direction of the motorbike”, adding: “I thought she was going to stop. I thought she had seen him.”

Instead, she told the inquest, the pensioner drove out in front of Mr Wootten: “She just went, it was that quick. It was really, really fast.”

Ms Harrison went to help the pensioner and Mr Wootten, adding: “I could see she wasn’t in a good way.”

A post-mortem found Mrs Watson died from multiple injuries. Sgt Gareth Thomas said police had investigated and a file had been sent to the Criminal Prosecution Service who decided no charges should be brought against Mr Wootten.

He said a 17-metre skidmark showed where the motorcyclist had braked to avoid hitting Mrs Watson and that it was estimated he was travelling at 32-37mph along the 30mph road when the crash happened.

Sgt Thomas said: “There was no evidence provided that Mr Watson’s riding was reckless or dangerous.”

Coroner Richard Middleton ruled Mrs Watson died as a result of suffering multiple injuries in the accident.