Car ‘catastrophe’ kills gran and her pregnant daughter
A PREGNANT woman and her mother were killed when their car careered off the road and overturned in a water-filled ditch, an inquest heard yesterday.
Jennifer Bunyan, 24, who was seven-and-a-half months pregnant, and her mum, Marion, 54, were both pronounced dead at the scene after their bodies were recovered from a silver Nissan Qashqai.
Expressing his sympathy and condolences, senior coroner David Heming said it was an “utter catastrophe” for the family as Jennifer’s unborn child could also not be saved.
The baby, which had already been named Erin by mother-ofone Jennifer and her fiance David Chatten, was delivered in hospital after the crash.
The accident happened at about 11.30am on Sunday June 7 when the car, being driven by Jennifer, left the road in Ramsey, Cambs, and plunged into a ditch.
Mr Heming said a post mortem examination on Marion, a mumof-three indicated she had died from drowning and further results were awaited on her daughter. They both lived in Little Paxton, near St Neots.
Paying tribute, Paul Bunyan said Marion, his wife of 30 years, worked as a teaching assistant for students with special educational needs and was “well liked and respected”.
He said: “My daughter Jennifer worked as a school librarian until becoming a full-time mother to Oliver, now nearly three.
“She leaves a family who love her and miss her terribly.”
Mr Heming added: “There are no words I can express that will alleviate the devastating loss for both Mr Chatten and Mr Bunyan.”
The pre-inquest review hearing into the deaths has been adjourned until August 21.