Motorist, 81, ‘pressed accelerator in error and hit retired couple'

Telegraph

07-08-2025

An 81-year-old motorist pressed his accelerator pedal 'in error' and hit a retired couple in a Welsh seaside town at high speed, an inquest has heard.
Stephen and Katherine Burch, both 65, had no time to react as Humphrey Pickering failed to negotiate a sharp bend and lost control of his Audi A8 automatic car.
Mr and Mrs Burch, a former vicar and charity worker, from Alcester, Warwickshire, suffered multiple injuries and were pronounced dead at the scene in the North Wales town of Beaumaris.
Mr Pickering, a former librarian from Colwyn Bay, also died at the scene on Alma Street when his car went on to collide with the front of a house on Aug 28 last year. He was not wearing his seat belt and sustained fatal chest injuries.
Caernarfon Coroner's Court heard that Mr Pickering had earlier tried to pull slowly out of a tight parking space off the seafront to allow enough room for his wife, Margaret, to get into the vehicle's passenger side.
A witness told the court that the grey Audi suddenly 'lurched forward' and the driver 'appeared to panic' before the car 'shot off down the road'.
CCTV footage showed the car initially accelerate 'abruptly' into a group of four pedestrians, knocking down two people who escaped with minor injuries.
Meilir Hywel, the forensic collision investigator for North Wales Police, said Mr Pickering's car continued to accelerate on Alma Street and narrowly missed colliding with two vehicles. Mr Pickering then lost control of the Audi on a 90-degree right bend.
Pre-crash data recovered from the vehicle showed the accelerator pedal was repeatedly pressed and the brake pedal was not activated. The Audi reached a speed of 55mph, in a 20mph zone, in the seconds before the collision, the court heard.
Mr Hywel concluded the sudden acceleration was because of 'pedal misapplication in applying the accelerator instead of the brake pedal in error'. He said: 'He was then unable to correct his error while driving a powerful vehicle.'
'A sudden and unintended acceleration'
Sarah Packwood, one of Mr and Mrs Burch's three children, told the inquest her parents were both of 'deep Christian faith'.
Her mother was a talented musician and baker who 'always put others first' and was 'passionate about serving her community', while her father 'actively shared his faith throughout his life' and was an 'avid sports fan'.
She said her family had raised concerns about the age of Mr Pickering and his ability to drive a brand new powerful vehicle.
Helen Baxter, Mr Pickering's daughter, said the father-of-two was an 'active member of the community' who was 'out in the garden every day in all weathers' and had good mental agility.
She said Mr Pickering had five holidays booked for last year, 'which was normal for him as he loved to travel'.
Kate Robertson, the senior coroner for north-west Wales, said she was satisfied the 'most likely explanation' for the collision was the 'pedal misapplication which has led to a sudden and unintended acceleration'.
She told both families: 'There are no words that I can say that will ease the pain and suffering you will no doubt be feeling, have felt and will continue to feel, but you have all acted with huge dignity.
'I am incredibly sorry for your loss in these tragic circumstances.'