A TRAGIC mother-to-be who died on the way to give birth may have collapsed before her car was involved in a road smash.

At the opening of the inquest into the death of Jeanette McKenna, at Hyndburn Magistrates Court yesterday, Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley coroner Michael Singleton said, at this stage, there was no evidence to suggest the 33-year-old died as a result of the New Year's Eve accident.

Jeanette, of The Copse, Accrington, was heading to Queen's Park Hospital, in Blackburn, when she lost control of the car on Shadsworth Road, shortly after 7.30am.

Mr Singleton said a post mortem examination had been carried out and results were being awaited. He said: "The injuries, such as they were, were not such to account for a cause of death.

"There remains the possibility that, in fact, this lady had collapsed prior to the road traffic accident occurring."

Mr Singleton added that this possibility was currently being considered by the pathologist who is carrying out further tests.

The coroner also took the opportunity to rectify some national newspaper reports which incorrectly stated the former beauty queen gave birth by the roadside.

Mr Singleton agreed that Jeanette, who had a five-year-old son Joshua, was heavily pregnant with a girl and was near delivery, but the post mortem examination had revealed that the foetus had remained in the body of her mother.

The inquest was adjourned until March 27.

Jeanette's body will be taken to St Anne's RC Church, Cobham Road, Accrington, tonight where Father Seamus Quigley will lead prayers, starting at 6.30pm. Requiem mass will be celebrated tomorrow at 10am followed by burial at Accrington Cemetery. Jeanette leaves three sisters and six brothers including her twin Paul.