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INQUEST: Stewart Vernalls

A POPULAR Worcester netball umpire died after he ran into the path of oncoming traffic, an inquest heard.

Stewart Vernalls, 55, was out jogging on the A449 Malvern Road, Lower Wick, Worcester, at 5.25pm on Thursday, November 22, when he was hit by two cars.

The father-of-two, who had been an umpire for Worcester City netball league for 25 years, suffered fatal head injuries.

At Worcestershire Coroner's Court in Stourport-on-Severn yesterday it was found that Mr Vernalls, of Vancouver Close, Lower Wick, had looked both ways before crossing the busy road at the entrance to Old Road in the dark.

But due to a lapse of concentration combined with a slightly obscured view he did not see the Ford Escort approaching him.

The driver of the Escort, Colin Stanford, of Selbourne Road, Worcester, said he had not driven since the accident.

He said: "I saw something to my left - something dark, moving.

"The next thing I knew he was in my windscreen. I heard him go over the roof."

Mr Vernalls was then hit by another car; a Renault Scenic driven by Natalie Digger.

Mrs Digger said: "I was driving along and I felt something rocking my car and I heard a bang.

"I looked into my rear view mirror and, I'm really sorry, I saw him in the air."

Mrs Digger, a museum assistant, tearfully told the inquest that she went to help Mr Vernalls and while he was lying on the road awaiting an ambulance he told her that his head hurt.

Coroner Geraint Williams said neither vehicle, both of which were travelling at about 25 to 30mph, could have prevented the collisions. Witness Julie Ballinger, who was driving in the opposite direction, said Mr Vernalls looked in her direction before running "directly into the path" of the oncoming car.

"In no way was the driver of the car to blame for the accident," she said.

Traffic collision experts revealed that the curve in the road combined with a large hedgerow could have blocked Mr Vernalls' view of the Escort.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, Mr Williams said: "Mr Vernalls would have seen traffic but would not have seen the nearest vehicle because of the hedgerow and bend in the road.

"My guess is he assumed he had time to cross the road and stepped out, running into the path of Mr Stanford's vehicle."

Mr Vernalls was taken to Worcestershire Royal Hospital before being transferrred to the University Hospital of Coventry and Warwickshire where he died the following day.

11:48am Thursday 27th March 2008

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