A mum died after driving through a fence and into a ditch as she tried to avoid a pedestrian.

An inquest at County Hall in Maidstone heard Margaret McDonagh, 29, died from her injuries after her car left Yelsted Road in Sittingbourne at around 1.20pm on Friday, May 20.

Mrs McDonagh was in a Kia Sorrento with her son Patrick when she lost control of it before flying through a chicken-wire fence hitting a tree and ending up down an embankment.

PC Christopher Oliver-Jones told the court how a postal worker rang the emergency services while members of the public tried to rescue Patrick from the car after realising Mrs McDonagh was already dead.

Her cause of death was given as multiple injuries as a result of trauma from a road traffic collision.

Further evidence from PC Helen Waghorn revealed there were no defects with the car and Mrs McDonagh had no drugs or alcohol in her system.

PC Waghorn told the court the driver didn't have a licence but in her opinion the reason for the crash was due to Mrs McDonagh "over steering" while on a slight bend, possibly due to an oncoming pedestrian.

"A young woman's family left behind. Such a cruel world..."

The pedestrian was George Beaney. He was walking towards the car along the narrow road, which was described as being big enough for a person and a car, and saw the fatal crash.

In a statement he said Mrs McDonagh wasn't speeding or driving abnormally and that suddenly the car began to slip from the front.

He said "within a matter of seconds" the car had gone through the fence and down the ditch.

PC Waghorn told coroner Ian Brownhill she believes for some reason, whether it be the oncoming pedestrian or another hazard, Mrs McDonagh slowed down, possibly taking her foot off the accelerator or braking, and over steered before the collision.

Following the tragic accident, friends and family paid tribute to Mrs McDonagh who was described a a "beautiful angel".

One woman wrote: "Rip Margaret. A young woman's family left behind. So sorry for your family loss. Such a cruel world."

"RIP beautiful angel," wrote another. "Heart breaking, so sorry for the family's loss."

The young passenger, Mrs McDonagh's son Patrick, fractured his arm but has made a full recovery, his father confirmed.