Lorry driver crushes disabled pedestrian to death

One possible explanation for this fatality is that (i) the disabled elderly pedestrian was unable to finish crossing the road in the ludicrously short time allocated to pedestrians on the green phase (ii) the lorry driver failed to see the pedestrian in front of his cab because she was in his ‘blind spot’.

AN elderly woman has died after being hit by a lorry when crossing the road.

The crash took place in Holly Road, in Rowley Regis, near to the junction of High Street, at around 12 noon yesterday.

Police have not named the woman, believed to be in her 60s, but neighbours said she was disabled mum-of-two Cynthia Chapel, of Terrace Street.

Pensioner Gladys Totney, aged 80, said: “She was very quiet. I didn’t see her very much but when I did she was very friendly.

“She was a bad cripple. She used two crutches and had to swing her legs.

Another neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said the accident took place at the Holly Road traffic lights.

“The lights were on green so the lorry driver went, as he was entitled to do.

“It was a big truck. He didn’t realise he had hit her until people started screaming at him to stop,” she said.

“She was trapped underneath his back wheels.