A BADLY-sited traffic island played a significant part in the death of Aileen Wood, an inquest was told.

Mrs Wood was delivering presents for her grandchild's first birthday as she crossed Blackburn Road in Rishton on a dark night in January.

And a police expert said car driver Peter Yates had no chance of avoiding a collision because his view was impaired by the traffic island and he would only have seen Mrs Wood at the last second.

Deputy coroner Carolyn Singleton said she would write to the appropriate highway authority, which would be required to investigate and prepare a report.

Mrs Wood, 55, of Haworth Street, Rishton, died of a severe head injury caused when she hit the windscreen of the car.

Mr Yates, of Pike Low Farm, Belthorn, had left work at Wheelbase Engineering, Blackburn Road, Rishton, and run two friends to the traffic lights before turning back and heading towards Blackburn.

Front seat passenger Dominic Richardson, of Bolton Road, Blackburn, told how, as they crossed the brow of the hill, he saw someone walking across the road. He said the person was wearing dark clothes and he did not see Mrs Wood's face until the last second when she turned to look at the car.

Mr Yates told police he had slowed almost to a stop behind a car turning into Cut Lane and then accelerated towards the brow of the hill. As he crested the hill he saw a woman in the middle of the road and slammed on the brakes, at the same time swerving to try and avoid a collision.

Sergeant James Boothby, of the police accident investigation unit, said no faults on the car had contributed to the accident.

He said the positioning of the island impaired the view of drivers as they came over the hill.

"The driver in this case would only have been able to see the pedestrian as he passed the traffic island," said Sergeant Boothby.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, Mrs Singleton said that pedestrians and motorists had a duty of care.

She said pedestrians should always make themselves as visible as possible and drivers should be aware of the responsibility of being in control of a potentially lethal weapon.

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