Elderly Grotton couple died after driver ‘mistook’ accelerator for brake

Norman Clarke and his wife Doreen died in the incident back in September 2017

An inquest into the death of a Grotton couple while they were away on holiday in Wales has heard the husband mistook the accelerator for the brake in his automatic car.

A collision investigator told the hearing, in Ruthin, there was no evidence of another likely explanation for the crash which was so severe it ripped the engine from the vehicle.

Eighty-one-year old Norman Clarke and his wife, 78-year old Doreen, died in the incident back in September 2017.

It’s understood the couple were travelling on the A494 in Flintshire, on their way back to Greater Manchester from their holiday caravan when the incident happened.

Experts say they found no mechanical defects or medial issues and the weather and road conditions at the time of the crash were good.

The couple’s Ford Focus veered across the road, hitting the central reservation before it collided with a tree at Aston Hill on 6th September 2017.

Post-mortem examinations revealed both Mr Clarke and wife died of traumatic chest injuries.

Mrs Clarke wasn’t wearing a seatbelt, but the inquest was told it wouldn’t have saved her.

Recording a conclusion of death from a road traffic collision, assistant coroner for North Wales East and Central, Joanne Lees, said: “Pedal misapplication was the most likely cause.”

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