A TEARFUL taxi driver told an inquest how he only saw a pensioner crossing a busy road in Burnley when it was too late.

Investigators said a combination of factors conspired against Post Office worker Jean Morton, 68, who was struck by a Blackburn taxi as she attempted to cross Brunshaw Road on Mad Friday last year.

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The inquest, at Burnley Coroner’s Court, was told how rain, darkness, glare from car headlights and a faulty street light made visibility difficult during rush hour on December 20, the last Friday before Christmas.

CCTV footage showed the Brierfield pensioner, who had just finished work at Pike Hill Post Office in Brownside Road, had crossed to the middle of the road and waited about two seconds before attempting to cross to the other side.

Taxi driver Alan Jacques, of Mill Hill Private Hire in Blackburn, said in a statement: “I saw a figure in the road no more than a few feet in front of the bonnet.

“I reacted as quickly as I could, braking and swerving to the left, and initially I thought I had missed her.”

But Mr Jacques, who struggled to control his emotions while giving evidence, said there was then a bang and he saw Mrs Morton — a mother of two — was lying in the road.

Mrs Morton’s daughters repeatedly referred to the 70m distance between where the taxi entered the 30mph Brunshaw Road and the collision point. But Mr Jacques said: “I did not see her at all.”

PC Phil Walker, collision investigator, said that very little information was available from witnesses, but that difficult driving conditions meant that, in his opinion, the driver was unable to take evasive action.

The officer said that faulty street light, near the point of collision, had been reported to the council, and an engineer had been called out earlier that day.

The engineer replaced a sensor and tested the light but it had failed again before the crash, said PC Walker.

Mr Jacques was not speeding and there were no problems with his vehicle, said PC Walker.

Born and bred in Burnley, Mrs Morton, of Halifax Road, was rushed to Royal Preston Hospital after the crash.

However, Mrs Morton did not regain consciousness and died from head injuries.

Coroner Richard Taylor told the family: “It appears to me there was a conspiracy of events all coming together at the same time.

“It is clearly not your mother’s fault at all, no-one is saying that, and the street light being out does not help.”

Mr Taylor concluded that Mrs Morton died in a road traffic collision.