By Paul McMullan

A much-loved grandmother died after being hit by an “illegal, speeding” driver who is now thought to have left the country, an inquest heard.

Paula Greenwood, 66, known as ‘Maudie’ to her friends and family, was crossing Folkestone Road in Dover unaware a Skoda Fabia was being driven “erratically” in her direction.

Seeing it too late she tried to run to the other side but was hit, the hearing was told.

After spending 11 months in a coma, on March 17, 2023, she “died from a brain injury as a result of the road traffic accident”.

She was such a popular local figure that hundreds of people attended her funeral at St Paul’s Church in Dover in April.

During the inquest, the grandmother-of-five’s family expressed their anger over the fact a criminal charge of causing death by dangerous driving had not been pursued against the Skoda driver Marek Mako.

The hearing was told the 33-year-old, formerly of London Road, Dover, was a recent migrant from Eastern Europe but was not in the UK illegally.

Representing the family, solicitor Sarah Jones told the inquest at County Hall in Maidstone last week that the car “had no MOT and the driver was speeding”.

“There is also evidence he was driving without shoes,” she added.

She called PC Duncan Swallow to give evidence. He confirmed another officer’s statement that the Skoda was in generally poor condition.

“There was no dipped beam, the exhaust was blowing, and there was an electrical fault so when you pulled the handbrake the dashboard lights went out,” PC Swallow said.

He also said both front tyres were over-inflated - one to 70psi and the other to 47psi. They should have been in the region of 30psi.

PC Swallow added: “Bodycam footage showed he put some shoes on after the collision but the lack of footwear did not have any bearing on the braking as the wheels locked and skidded.

“Maudie was not killed instantly at the scene but was severely injured and taken away.

“Had the Skoda been travelling at the speed limit, 30mph, she would have been able to make it to the other side.

“The Skoda was travelling no slower than 40mph, corroborated by the length of the tyre marks at the scene. ”

A statement was read to the court from Maudie’s husband and father to their five children, Gordon McKenzie, recalling the final moments before the tragic crash on April 21, 2022.

“We left the Priory Hotel at 6pm - we are social drinkers and were not drunk at all,” the 70-year-old said.

“We stood on the pavement. I looked left. Maudie looked right.

“I saw a car passing The Alma Hostel opposite the BP garage. It was travelling fast, between 40 and 50mph.

“I waited until the car had passed but Maudie had not seen the car and decided to cross.

“She was hit by the passenger side of the car, going onto the windscreen and landed on the pavement.”

PC Swallow said Mako had tried to steer but the wheels had locked.

DC David Holmes told the hearing: “Mr Mako said under caution he performed an emergency stop as she ran across the road and tried to swerve but it was too late.

“He tried to claim he was going at the speed limit but later admitted he was doing 40mph. He changed his account.”

Eyewitness Elizabeth Oliver told in a statement read to the court how she heard a screech of brakes before seeing the crash. She then called 999.

Another eyewitness Ellie Glover, said in a statement: “I was driving behind the Skoda.

“It was being driven fast, erratically and dangerously and was doing about 50mph before it rounded the corner.

“I briefly lost sight of it before catching up and I saw smoke coming out of it where it had skidded out of control. I thought it had broken down, but then I saw the woman.”

The Crown Prosecution Service only charged Mr Mako with having no MOT and family members watching the inquest through a video link shouted that the police investigation had been incompetent.

But DC Holmes said: “The forensic evidence was not good enough to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt.”

The coroner instructed a private investigator to trace Mako to force him to come to court but it is believed he fled the country.

The PI found a mobile number for him and although he answered it as “Hello Marek” it later turned out it was his brother Vincent Mako pretending to be Marek, which further confused the hunt, it was said.

The PI attended two properties, the last one in London Road, but Mr Mako had not been seen for several months.

Maudie’s daughter Georgie MacKenzie, 32, who broke down in tears repeatedly during the hearing, said: “How can there not even be the possibility of a charge of death by reckless driving?

“He had such a disregard for human life. He was witnessed driving recklessly, dangerously and speeding.

“He even tried to smear my mother saying she was just a street drinker which was a vile horrible lie. But for him to even think it is OK to kill someone shows just what kind of a man he is.”

Coroner Sarah Clarke recorded a narrative verdict, which allows her to put some of the issues surrounding a death on record.

She said: “The driver was driving over the speed limit by at least 10mph but the actual speed could not be verified up to criminal standards.

“[Paula Greenwood] underestimated the speed and perhaps thought she could make it across in time. If he had been driving at 30mph there would have been no need to brake.”

The coroner added: “Paula Greenwood was in a road traffic accident. She was a pedestrian crossing the B2011 when she was struck by a speeding vehicle and sustained injuries from which she never recovered.

“She died as a result of complications arising from the injuries sustained.”

In a statement provided to KentOnline after the hearing, Kent Police said: “A thorough investigation was carried out into the collision, including an inspection of the vehicle at the scene, analysis of CCTV and dashcam footage and speaking to witnesses.

“The Crown Prosecution Service later authorised a charge of driving without a valid MOT against Marek Mako. Further charges did not meet the evidential test.

“Mako, 33, formerly of London Road, Dover, admitted the charge at Folkestone Magistrates’ Court on November 15, 2022, and was issued with a fine.”

Dover District Commander Detective Chief Inspector Keith Taylor added: “Local officers understand the sadness in the community following Paula Greenwood’s tragic death.

“I offer my condolences to her family and friends and hope the conclusion of the inquest gives them some sense of closure.”

The CPS declined to provide its own comment.