A police officer has said he was "surprised" to hear a great-grandmother had died in a two-car crash last year.

Marjorie Haines was sitting in the back of her husband's Vauxhall Corsa when he turned onto the A2045 Walderslade Wood from Impton Lane in October.

Despite her side of the car suffering minimal damage, Mrs Haines died five days later.

An inquest today heard the 75-year-old, who lived in the Royal British Legion Village, fractured 13 ribs in the crash on October 14.

Her husband, Frank Haines, had pulled out from Impton Lane onto the A2045 Walderslade Woods when he was hit side-on by a Seat Ibiza.

Forensic crash investigators were occupied on the day of the crash, looking into a fatal collision on the M20.

Police in Tonbridge were called to the scene and forensic teams were notified once Mrs Haines died on October 19.

PC Andrew Waghorn, of the forensic crash investigation team, visited the scene on October 28, two weeks after the collision.

He raised no issues with the safety of the junction.

Assistant coroner Sonia Hayes heard the Seat Ibiza was travelling well within the 60mph speed limit, while Mr Haines had stopped to check for traffic before pulling out of the junction.

PC Waghorn heard the majority of the damage suffered to the Vauxhall Corsa was to the front axle, with little impact to the vehicle's interior.

"This was simply a very tragic accident. It is most unfortunate. At times people can just be looking but don't see..." assistant coroner Sonia Hayes

He added he was surprised to hear someone had died as a result of the crash.

Mrs Haines was taken to Medway Maritime Hospital for treatment to her ribs.

Her condition deteriorated over the following days and surgeons took action by removing her spleen.

Sadly her health continued to worsen and she died from multiple organ failure on October 19.

The inquest heard Mrs Haines had a number of pre-existing conditions which "would have made it difficult to compensate for injuries from the accident."

Assistant coroner Sonia Hayes said: "This was simply a very tragic accident. It is most unfortunate. At times people can just be looking but don't see.

"I'd like to offer my sincere condolences. I know how difficult it is when these things happen."

The coroner ruled the Maidstone-born great grandmother died as a result of a road traffic collision.

In a statement released last year, Mrs Haines's family described her as a "wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

"She will be missed immensely by us all, what a terrible tragedy."

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