By Staff Reporter

Last updated at 11:17, Friday, 14 December 2012

A mum was killed when she got off a bus after arguing with the driver about the order in which he was dropping off passengers.

Lisa Suddart

Mum of two Lisa Suddart, 31, of Hunter's Drive, Seaton, was struck by a car as she walked home along the A66 after a Christmas night out last year.

An inquest heard how Ms Suddart went to Hundith Hill Hotel, near Cockermouth, on December 17 with colleagues from clothes shop Wallis.

The group was picked up by a minibus early the next morning but Ms Suddart disagreed with driver William Patterson about the order in which passengers should be dropped off.

Mr Patterson, of Crosby Villa, told the court he had dropped somebody at Broughton Cross and planned to head to High Harrington but Ms Suddart wanted to go home next and was swearing.

When Mr Patterson warned her that she could be ejected from the bus if she kept swearing, Ms Suddart said she wanted to get off. He pulled over into the layby on the A66 Stainburn bypass, intending to explain his planned route to Ms Suddart, Mr Patterson said.

But, when the vehicle stopped, she got out, planning to get a lift from her partner Kenny Blackwell.

Ms Suddart, who was dressed all in black, ended up in the middle of the carriageway.

She was narrowly avoided by one car but was hit moments later by a second.

Helen Brown, of Longtown, was travelling to Workington when she spotted Ms Suddart, who was in the road to the right of her car then stumbled and moved in front of her.

Ms Brown swerved to the right and braked heavily but her car hit Ms Suddart, who died instantly from multiple injuries.

Tests showed Ms Suddart was just over twice the legal drink-drive limit.

Mr Blackwell told the court that his partner of three years had phoned him at 12.38am but when he answered he could hear only noise.

Crash investigator PC Philip Murray told the court that, because Ms Suddart was to the right-hand side of the road outside the angle of headlight beams, Ms Brown would not have had time to avoid a collision.

In a statement, Nikki Bell said her sister was a natural mother devoted to her sons, Matthew and John.

Miss Bell said: “Not only was Lisa my sister, she was my best friend too.

“The death of Lisa has left a massive void in our family.”

Mr Roberts recorded a verdict of accidental death.

First published at 11:11, Friday, 14 December 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk