A WOMAN died after losing control of her car and crashing into a tractor during snowy weather, an inquest has heard.

Joan Cottom, from Deneside, Lanchester, in County Durham, died on Friday, December 29.

Crook Coroner’s Court heard that it was snowing at the time of the accident, which happened on the A691, at Leadgate, near Consett, at around 9.40am.

The hearing at Crook Civic Centre heard that she had been making a “routine” journey when she lost control of her Mini Cooper on a bend and crashed into a John Deere tractor.

It is thought the 58-year-old, who worked in customer services, may have lost control after over-steering while negotiating a bend.

A collision expert from Durham and Cleveland’s road policing unit told the court that the road was wet at the time of the collision, though snow was not yet lying.

She said: “It’s my opinion it’s when she negotiated the bend she over-reacted and over-steered, losing control of the vehicle.

“Harsher than normal steering and braking on a wet road can cause over rotation.”

The inquest heard that the driver of the tractor, who was uninjured in the accident, had tried to get off the road and on to a grass verge, out of the way of Mrs Cottom’s car, but had been unable to do so because of a stone wall.

His statement, which was read to the court, said he had a good view of the road but the accident had happened in a few seconds and added that he had swerved to try and avoid the crash.

The Mini, which was starting to spin at the time, collided with the front wheel of the tractor.

Sgt Sam Turner told the court that Mrs Cottom, who was returning from a GP appointment she had attended earlier in the day, was local to the area and would have been familiar with the road, which is the main route between Lanchester and Consett.

He added: “There is no evidence of drugs or alcohol and there is no evidence that either party was distracted.

“Mrs Cottom was local to the area. There was what was described as sleet and snow was causing hazardous driving conditions which could be a factor.”

Oliver Longstaff, assistant coroner, said: “The weather conditions were not propitious.

“I find it more than likely she will have suffered a momentary loss of control which she has reacted in the moment and that reaction has brought her into collision with a tractor, whose driver I am satisfied could have done nothing to avoid the consequence of a collision.”

Mrs Cottom was pronounced dead at the scene after suffering traumatic brain stem injury and injury to her vertebral column.

The inquest recorded that Mrs Cottom died as a result of a road traffic collision.