A crash which killed an 85-year-old woman was unavoidable, an inquest has heard.

Joan Hamilton, of West Street, West Malling, died after she was hit by a car as she used a pedestrian crossing in the High Street.

PC Mark Myers told coroner Patricia Harding the driver would not have had sufficient time to register the danger, brake and stop in time.

He said: “Once Mrs Hamilton stepped into the carriageway, the collision was inevitable.”

The pensioner had been on the crossing in a 20mph zone for less than two seconds when she was hit by a grey Seat Leon driven by Sarah Tucker, just after 9am on Friday, December 27.

She suffered serious head trauma and died the next day at Kings College Hospital in London.

Mrs Tucker had left her home in Kings Hill and was heading towards the A20 London Road when Mrs Hamilton stepped into the road outside Down Swan Street gift shop, opposite Martin’s newsagents.

Mrs Tucker’s daughter was a backseat passenger.

The mother told the inquest she slowed down shortly before the accident after noticing a parked car on her left had put its reverse lights on.

“Once Mrs Hamilton stepped into the carriageway, the collision was inevitable" - PC Mark Myers

As the motorist reduced her speed, her vision was briefly obstructed by a vehicle turning at the junction with West Street but she told the coroner her view was clear when she continued forward.

“Nobody was waiting to cross,” an emotional Mrs Tucker said. “As I approached the crossing, I just remember seeing out of the corner of my eye, something (or) someone. It was a split second...she was already to my left.”

PC Myers estimated Mrs Tucker was travelling between 16mph and 25mph in the High Street. He added Mrs Hamilton would have been able to see approaching traffic.

Mrs Harding said CCTV showed the pensioner approaching the crossing from an angle and looking “fleetingly” to her right before stepping into the road.

She recorded a conclusion of misadventure.

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