Takeaway customer 'accidentally' killed by reversing van
Police inspect the
vehicle after the crash in Greenhithe
A customer killed outside a fast food takeaway died from
accidental causes, a coroner has finally ruled.
Philippa Watson, 51, of Green Street Green Road, Dartford was
run over by a van being reversed outside McDonalds in Greenhithe in
August 2011.
An inquest in Gravesend was told the driver's rear view was
obstructed by tools, and Mrs Watson may also have fallen as he
drove back.
The driver, Aaron Dainty, 24, of Kent Avenue, Canvey
Island, was recently acquitted of causing the death of Philippa
Watson by careless driving.
At the court and in a statement read to the inquest this week
Ray Winchester, a McDonalds employee, claimed Mr Dainty was eating
as he reversed.
He said Mr Dainty was not giving sufficient attention to
driving.
Mr Dainty denied the allegations, and said he was using the
internal window and side mirrors to watch as he reversed.
Coroner Roger Hatch said it was not his place to involve himself
with criminal or civil cases.
"It is my task to ascertain how she came by her death, and this
was a tragic accident," he said.
In a separate court case in Dartford earlier this month Mr
Dainty was fined £335, ordered to pay £100 court costs and was
given three penalty points after pleading guilty to driving the van
with dangerous seats.
Magistrates were told the rear seats had been replaced by
deckchairs.
30/01/13