Man died after car park collision as driver's foot 'slipped from the brake'

AN ELDERLY driver’s foot “slipped” on to the accelerator in a store car park before he caused the death of another pensioner.

- DAVID POWELL

Timothy Field, 81, crashed into David Lumb in the Tesco supermarket car park in Newtown, Powys.

Mr Lumb, 78, was taken to hospital but died 17 days later. Caernarfon Crown Court heard Mr Lumb's widow, Jean, called for “forgiveness and leniency” following the tragedy.

The judge, Her Honour Nicola Jones, said Mrs Lumb's attitude was remarkable and rare.

She gave Field, of Red Lane, Tregodfa, Shropshire, an eight-month prison sentence for causing death by careless driving, but suspended it for 12 months.

Prosecutor Sion ap Mihangel said Mr and Mrs Lumb had been to Tesco in Newtown on March 18 last year. She returned to their car while Mr Lumb used the toilets.

The defendant, who was in a red Jeep, asked Mrs Lumb, who was sitting in her parked Dodge Nitro car driver's seat, if she was about to leave.

The prosecutor said: “It appeared to Mrs Lumb that he [Mr Field] was anxious to park in the same spot. She replied they would have to wait a minute as her husband was on his way.”

Mr Lumb then came out of Tesco and walked in front of the Jeep.