A GROUP of Good Samaritans ran to the aid of a 93-year-old man who had been knocked down – sheltering him from the weather with umbrellas, an inquest heard.

Albert Evans, of Foxdale Court, was rushed to Aintree Hospital via ambulance after suffering a serious head injury following the collision at the roundabout on Winwick Street near to the Lord Rodney pub.

But the retired manager died from his injuries hours later in hospital on July 13.

The inquest heard how the driver of a Kia car was travelling to his house in Dallam after leaving work at around 6.30pm.

Approximately 15 minutes later the driver arrived at the roundabout on Winwick Street.

As he drove around the roundabout, the driver recalled seeing a ‘blue object moving’ and immediately carried out an emergency stop.

He said: “I did not realise what is was at first and I hit the brakes.

“What I realise now is that it was a person running across me.”

He added: “I immediately knew what I had done so I got out of the car to help him.”

Witnesses gave conflicting evidence surrounding the weather during the inquest.

One recalled seeing people bringing umbrellas from the Lord Rodney pub as it had started raining shortly after the crash.

Another was walking near to the roundabout with his coat hood up to shelter him from the rain moments before the collision.

The emergency services were called and an ambulance arrived at 6.50pm.

Scans revealed that Mr Evans had suffered a fractured pelvis and a major head injury.

In a statement prepared by a consultant doctor, he described how Mr Evans became increasingly drowsy and died a short time later at 11.10pm.

A vehicle inspection revealed there was no evidence to suggest there was a technical vault which would have caused a loss of control with the car.

Cheshire Police crash investigator PC Steve Binns revealed how tests carried out at the scene of the collision indicated that the driver was travelling between 16-20mph in a 30mph zone.

He added that there were two safer places to cross the roundabout but Mr Evans had taken a linear route across the roundabout in the direction of the Lord Rodney pub.

It is believed Mr Evans was walking to Tescos.

Medical records from Mr Evan’s doctor were also examined and it was revealed he had been diagnosed with glaucoma but opted against receiving treatment.

Concluding, Alan Moore said while Mr Evans remained conscious at the scene, he was unable to give an explanation or make any comment about what happened.

He added: “Mr Evans was taking a linear route across the roundabout towards the Lord Rodney pub. This was a shortcut. Traffic was light.

“I have heard he suffered from glaucoma and it is impossible to tell whether his eyesight had any bearing on the events of that evening.”

It was concluded that Mr Evans died as a result of a road traffic collision.