Driver admits fatal Paignton crash after 'lapse of concentration'

A crowd of people rushed to help after he had been thrown into the air by the impact

A 78-year-old driver has admitted causing the death of a pedestrian who was crossing the road in Paignton. Edward Langworthy was hit by a car being driven by Doretta Winsor on November 3 last year.

Mr Langworthy was walking slowly across Victoria Street when Winsor's Hyundai rounded the bend. CCTV played to magistrates showed him being thrown into the air and landing on the road.

The 69-year-old pedestrian died in hospital nearly three weeks after the collision. Winsor appeared at Newton Abbot Magistrates' Court and pleaded guilty to a single charge of causing death without due care and attention.

She told police it was a "momentary lapse in concentration." She was "devastated" her driving had resulted in the death of Mr Langworthy.

CCTV showed the pedestrian making his way across the road from the direction of the level crossing on Torbay Road. Before he reached the other side the Hyundai came around the bend and hit him.

A crowd of people ran to the injured man as he lay motionless on the ground. The driver stopped at the scene.

The injured man was taken to Torbay Hospital and then transferred to Derriford Hospital, Plymouth where he died on November 21.

Magistrates were told Winsor, of Preston Down Road, Paignton, made full admissions to police and accepted her driving fell below the standard expected on the basis there was a six-second period where she should have had sight of him.

She had a clean driving licence, which she has since surrendered, and no previous convictions. Magistrates adjourned the case to November 14 for a pre-sentence report by probation. They imposed an interim disqualification, pending a mandatory ban.

An inquest into the death of Mr Langworthy had previously heard that he was born in Dublin and lived in Paignton. He was a retired vehicle technician by occupation.

An air ambulance was called to the scene and the road was closed in both directions for around four hours following the tragic incident.

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