Bolton inquest into the death of Edna Kearns, who died aged 92

Edna Kearns died at Royal Bolton Hospital on April 8 last year.

Bolton Coroners Court heard Ms Kearns was in and out of hospital before her death after a “terrific” accident at her bungalow in White Horse Grove, Westhoughton.

Michael Vose, 40, of Mount Pleasant Avenue, St. Helens, crashed into the bungalow at high speed on November 25, 2021 and was subsequently jailed for four years and received a seven-year ban from driving.

Ms Kearns’ son, Rodney Kearns, told the inquest that his mother was “satisfied” with life before the accident.

He said: “Her mind was still active, she was enjoying life and able to hold conversations with family and friends.

“She was content and loved her bungalow as she wouldn’t be moving into a nursing home or anything like that.”

Mr Kearns told the inquest: “The accident was so serious that her bed turned around in the room.”

Forensic pathologist Professor Dr. Alan Walsh heard Ms Kearns was lucky to be alive at the time of the accident, as the car “almost landed on her bed” as she slept in the early hours of the morning.

The pathologist Dr. Philip Lumb, of the Royal Oldham Hospital, said Ms Kearns suffered from conditions including muscat liver and fluid around her lungs before the crash.

It was also determined that the elderly woman was suffering from Covid at the time of her death.

While her legs were lacerated at the time of the accident in November 2021, the wounds were healing.

Doctors determined Ms Kearns had bruises on her right heel due to limited mobility.

Doctors could not be sure why her mobility was limited.

The limited mobility is said to have caused the pulmonary embolism, a disease that leads to blood clots in the lungs.

While the family argued that if the accident had not happened, Mrs Kearns would still be alive today, Dr. Walsh on the following death: “Pulmonary embolism due to deep vein thrombosis, caused by natural events and partly by the traffic accident. ”

However, Mr Walsh said he had not determined that the road traffic injuries could be recorded in criminal court and that Ms Kearns’ death was not ultimately caused by the accident, as explained by medics as a “more complex” of a case.

Mr Walsh said: “I find it deeply concerning that a 92-year-old should have suffered in this road accident while asleep in her bed.

“She shouldn’t have gone through that.”