The death of a Leek pensioner who was hit by an eight-wheeled lorry was not the fault of the driver, an inquest heard.
Derek Nixon, 80, was killed when he was dragged under the HGV in Leek town centre.
Mr Nixon, of Clerk Bank, was crossing Fountain Street near the Nicholson War Memorial after a routine doctor’s appointment when he was hit on April 2 last year.
The HGV front wheels went over Mr Nixon after he was pulled underneath.
It caused serious internal damage to his skull, heart and lungs.
Mark Plimmer, 40, of Kinder Way, Buxton was driving the lorry.
He told North Staffordshire coroners court: “I was following the flow of traffic when the lights went red at the traffic lights.
“I stopped behind the ‘Keep Clear’ sign on the road as my vehicle is too big to stop in front of it.
“It was just another day in paradise and I was heading for the A500 – a route I’ve been driving for 10 years.
“I checked all my mirrors and saw no obstruction and moved ahead when the lights changed, I felt a bump and heard a shriek – it was the woman shrieking that made me stop.
“In a rigid vehicle you could hit a pebble on the road that would make the wagon jump, so it was the shriek that made me stop.”
PC Andrew Talbot, of Staffordshire Police, said: “The driver was eight to nine feet above the pavement and if you stood a 6ft man in front of the windscreen the driver would not see him.”
The police informed the court that despite the location of a zebra crossing 20 metres away from where Mr Nixon crossed, 88% of pedestrians crossed the road at the same place, in front of the traffic lights.
These statistics came after the incident and a lengthy police observation.
Biddulph-born Mr Nixon’s son Nigel said: “His health was spot-on apart from walking with a stick, even his memory was fine – he could tell you what he did when he was five years old.”
Senior Coroner Ian Smith said: “The death of Mr Nixon would have been instantaneous.
“I accept Mr Plimmer’s evidence and I am satisfied that if Mr Plimmer had seen Mr Nixon he would not have moved forward.
“Drivers who are involved are very much affected and it will continue to affect Mr Plimmer for quite some time.”
He recorded a verdict of death caused by a road traffic collision.
Mr Ian Smith will refer the incident to Leek Town Council to provide railings across the street to ensure all pedestrians use the crossing.
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