A GRANDMOTHER who dedicated her life to caring for others died after mistiming oncoming traffic on Winwick Road.

Maureen Syers, from Orford, was crossing the A49 when she was involved in a crash on October 2 at 9.20am.

The former psychiatric nurse lived in Burtonwood for 40 years before spending the last eight years of her life living in Poplars Avenue.

The 83-year-old would make sure she left the house every day 'even just to buy a loaf of bread' and was described by family as 'active and independent'.

An inquest at Cheshire Coroner's Court, sitting in Warrington, on Thursday heard how Maureen would cross the dual carriageway to catch the bus to St Helens where she would visit her granddaughter Jemma.

The family had expressed their concern at her crossing the busy road and had advised her to use the bridge close by.

She was struck by a Hyundai I20 on the southbound carriageway.

Christopher Page, a HGV driver who witnessed the tragic accident, said: "I was travelling along Winwick Road towards Warrington when I noticed a lady stood on the grass verge.

"As I got closer she looked as if she may step out onto the road so I slowed down and when I was around 10 feet away, she walked out at a fast pace."

Mr Miller braked hard and steered away from the pensioner who he described as 'looking confused in the middle of the two lanes'.

He added: "She did a half turn as if to run back, however she then stepped into the second lane in front of the red Hyundai."

Dean Miller, who was travelling in a ford transit tipper behind the red car, was present to give evidence.

He told the court: "When I was around 10 to 15 metres away, she decided to scurry across the road and then realised she had timed it wrong.

"It looked like she turned to go back but then it was too late."

Drivers leapt out of their vehicles to help the pensioner and called the emergency services.

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Maureen was airlifted to Salford Royal Hospital with serious head injuries but doctors were unable to save her.

Specialist collision investigators confirmed there was nothing more the driver of the car could have done to avoid Maureen.

Maureen has four children, seven grandchildren and one great-grandson and had been living on her own since her husband Alfred’s death nine years ago.

Jemma Flaherty, Maureen's granddaughter, told the court: "She was very active, she worked all her life until she was 70 and then looked after my granddad.

"She would get the bus to St Helens every week to see me and my son.

"She was becoming a bit forgetful, referring to money as 'shillings' but we had no concerns.

"I spoke to her that morning and she told be 'I'll not be long, I'll be there in an hour'.

"It is horrific what has happened but this is a bit of closure."

Coroner Claire Welch ruled Maureen's death as a result of a road traffic collision.