THE 33-year-old pregnant woman who died after crashing into a lamp post was in labour at the time, an inquest heard.

And the hearing in to the death of Jeanette McKenna, of The Copse, Accrington, heard that she died as a result of the crash which partially detached the placenta.

Fluid entered her blood stream and accumulated in her lungs causing rapid death.

But coroner Michael Singleton adjourned the inquest so that Home Office pathologist William Lawler could be questioned about his post-mortem report by the dead woman's father, William McKenna and her partner, William Loughlin.

He said the report was extremely technical and he would take the unusual step of reading it to the family before offering them the option of an adjournment.

"The pathologist is not available to give evidence in person today but you are entitled, if you wish, to ask him questions about his findings, said Mr Singleton.

"If after hearing the report you feel you need to understand things better I will adjourn the inquest."

The report said that Miss McKenna had experienced psychiatric problems after the birth of her first child in 1977.

The day before her death Miss McKenna had been admitted to hospital suffering from back ache and abdominal pain. She was distressed, agitated and irritable but refused to see a psychiatrist.

By noon the following day the baby's head was engaged, the cervix was dilated and the membrane was intact.

At 2.45pm she said she wanted to go home as there were some problems with her partner. This was discouraged but she was insistent.

Miss McKenna was last seen on the ward at 5.30pm and by 6pm had disappeared.

The collision happened in Shadsworth Road, Blackburn, on New Year's Eve at 7.30am and Dr Lawler's report said she had not been wearing a seat belt at the time.

The unborn baby had no external injuries.

Mr Singleton said the report contained a lot of technical detail. He summarised it by saying that Miss McKenna had been in labour at the time of the accident.

The inquest will be re-arranged for a day when Dr Lawler and other witnesses can attend.