A FORMER restaurant owner died when a car driven by his wife of 44 years ran over him, an inquest has heard.

King Chan, 78, had no idea she was reversing over her husband, Tat, as she backed her car out of their garage.

The couple were about to set off for the gym when the tragedy unfolded at Dringthorpe Road, York, at 6.30pm on July 22 last year, the hearing at New Earswick Folk Hall was told.

Mrs Chan believed her 80-year-old husband had gone back into their house and did not realise he was behind her as she reversed out of the garage.

Traffic Constable David Taylor said Mrs Chan had not used her mirrors or looked out of the rear window.

Concluding the incident was a road traffic collision, Coroner Jonathan Leach said: "It's clear that as a result of the collision Mr Chan was dragged along the driveway and sustained injury from which he died."

He added Mr Chan had a number of health problems, including prostate cancer and a problem affecting his balance.