Daughter in law of MP killed as she ran in front of PCSO’s car
THe daughter-in-law of Labour MP Dame Margaret Hodge died after being hit by a police community support officer’s car, an inquest heard yesterday.
Rachel Watson, 43, suffered brain and spinal injuries when she was hit by a car while out running and died later that day.
The opening of the inquest had previously heard she was training for a half-marathon.
Mrs Watson, who was married to the Labour grandee’s son, Nick Watson, had left her home in Leeds to go for a run at around 10am on February 4, but was hit just 20 minutes later in Moortown, a nearby suburb.
PCSO Alexander L’Amie, 24, was driv-
‘Completely devastated’
ing to work in his Vauxhall Corsa at around 60mph in the right-hand lane of the A6120 dual carriageway.
He told police he first saw selfemployed Mrs Watson when he was eight to ten car-lengths from her.
Wakefield Coroner’s Court heard he ‘dabbed’ his brakes to slow after seeing Mrs Watson stood on the inside lane.
Mr L’Amie said when he got close to Mrs Watson, she started to cross and he braked, steering the car towards the central reservation in an attempt to avoid her.
Forensic collision investigator Andrew Cross, said he considered ‘the main contributing factor was the pedestrian failing to appreciate the oncoming Vauxhall’.
Mr Cross said Mr L’Amie had ‘little or no opportunity to take avoiding action’.
Recording a verdict that Mrs Watson died in a traffic collision, coroner Jonathan Leach, said: ‘I’m satisfied on the evidence that for some reason Rachel entered the road when vehicles were coming towards her.
‘Why she did so is unknown. The most likely possibility is that she didn’t appreciate the speed which the vehicles were travelling. I’m satisfied that Mr L’Amie had no opportunity to avoid the collision.’ Her family paid tribute to the ‘warm and generous’ mother of three following the tragedy. In a statement, they said: ‘We are completely devastated by the loss of Rachel, a devoted wife, mother, stepmum, daughter and sister.
‘Rachel was beautiful, warm, generous and kind – nothing was too much trouble for her family or her friends.
‘She also had a great sense of fun and would light up any gathering. All those who knew Rachel will share our sadness at her tragic death, which came far too young, but she will be particularly missed by Nick, her husband, and the children.’
Dame Margaret, her mother-inlaw, is a former chairman of the influential public accounts select committee. She has been the MP for Barking since winning the seat in 1994, and held various ministerial positions in Tony Blair and Gordon Brown’s governments.