AN eye-witness to a fatal collision believes the motorist involved drove onto a village’s main street quicker than necessary immediately prior to the accident.

Danielle Morgan was giving evidence at the opening of the trial of Liam David Abbott, who denies causing the death of 77-year-old pedestrian Doreen Campbell, by careless driving.

He was at the wheel of a Renault Clio, which turned from the junction of Crosslea, onto Front Street, in Sacriston, County Durham, on Wednesday June 10, last year.

Durham Crown Court heard that Mrs Campbell, who was carrying shopping bags, was crossing from outside a Tesco store, heading towards a convenience shop opposite, when she was hit by the Clio, shortly after noon.

The court was told she was thrown onto the bonnet of the car, which came to a halt, before she fell onto the road.

Although attended by ambulance paramedics, she died in Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary three days later.

Paul Reid, prosecuting, said the “much-loved” great-grandmother was following an almost daily ritual of visiting the shops in Sacriston with her neighbour in the village, childhood friend and 30-year work colleague Mary McSkelly.

Mr Reid said even if Mrs Campbell was briefly in the defendant’s “blind spot” as he pulled from the junction, the prosecution believes there was “momentary inattention” on his part once on the Front Street.

Ms Morgan, was in her car, intending to pull out from the Tesco car park, but told the court she waited when she saw Mrs Campbell starting to cross.

She said Mrs Campbell had taken three to four steps onto the road when the Clio pulled out from the junction.

“I feel that he accelerated too quickly to be coming out of a junction onto a main road on the shopping street.”

The 23-year-old defendant, of Lingey Close, Sacriston, is expected to give evidence on the second day of the trial, onTuesday.

Case proceeding.