Driver who flashed her lights as a warning accidentally blinded another motorist who ran over and killed 62-year-old pedestrian, inquest hears

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A driver who flashed her lights as a warning that a man had fallen into the road accidentally blinded another motorist who then ran over and killed the pedestrian, an inquest heard. 

Retired merchant navy captain Keith Wrightson, 62, was walking home with his son from a football match when he tripped and fell into the road.

Driver Danielle Fardoe saw him fall and flashed her lights to warn oncoming drivers he was in the road, as Mr Wrightson's son tried to stop traffic by frantically waving and shouting.

But BMW driver Vignesh Chandrasekar was blinded by Ms Fardoe's lights and hit Mr Wrightson, who died from massive chest injuries in front of his distraught son.  

Experts told the inquest that Mr Chandrasekar was likely to have been affected by 'disability glare', a phenomenon that can be caused by bright oncoming headlights. 

Keith Wrightson (pictured with wife Gill) died when he was run over by a BMW after he tripped in the road on the way back from a football match with his son, an inquest into his death heard

Mr Wrightson's son Luke, who is also in the merchant navy, told the coroner he and his father had been with friends and relatives watching Scarborough Athletic, visiting pubs in the town before and after the game.

Teacher Danielle Fardoe saw Mr Wrightson fall in her rearview mirror and flashed her lights to warn oncoming drivers of the danger to the 62-year-old. 

But 40-year-old businessman Vignesh Chandrasekar said he was 'blindsided' by the flashing and ran over Mr Wrightson in his BMW X1.

Mr Chandrasekar told the inquest in Northallerton, North Yorks, that he didn't see Luke and by the time he saw Mr Wrighton lying in the road in Scarborough it was too late to stop.

Luke Wrightson, 33, told the inquest into his father's death: 'Dad was just ahead of me when he lost his footing and started to stagger towards the road. I tried to stop him but unfortunately I was not able to.

'He went down onto the road lying perpendicular across the road with his head to the centre of the road.

'I cannot remember his exact position, whether he was on his back or not at the point he fell. I went to try to help him, trying to get him up so I was above him, slightly crouched.

'I saw lights and noticed a car coming and at this point I was not overly concerned. I was aware the danger was there and thought I would signal the car, waving my arms as it approached.

'I realised the car was not going to stop. I started panicking, shouting 'stop' among other things but it became clear to me that it was too late and I had to get out of the way.

'At the last minute I dived towards the pavement and the grass. I'm not sure but I think my trailing leg was caught by the car.

'When I gathered myself after the car had gone past, I was looking for my dad.

'I had heard a bang as it happened. From what I remember I proceeded around the back end of the car and then looked underneath it and saw my dad, who was bleeding and unresponsive.' 

A driver and resident brought jacks to try to lift the car from Mr Wrightson after the tragedy. 

A forensic pathologist told the hearing she believed Mr Wrightson was killed outright by the impact of the collision, which caused fatal chest injuries and 49 rib fractures.  

The BMW driver which struck Keith Wrightson said he was 'blindsided' by another motorist flashing lights to warn him and did not see the retired seaman, 62, who had fallen in the road

Mr Chandrasekar was questioned by the Wrightson family's lawyer Dominic Adamson, QC, as to why he had been unable to stop when a driver was flashing her lights to warn him and as Luke, who was wearing a light-coloured coat, was waving in the road.

He told the hearing that Miss Fardoe's flashing lights had temporarily 'blind-sided' him.

Mr Chandrasekar said she flashed them once, then 'frantically' before a steady full beam.

He said: 'A single flash turned to frantic flashing. I was puzzled as to why that might be. I looked at the controls of my vehicle, including my lights in case they were on full beam.

'I also checked for warning lights in case there was something wrong with my vehicle.'

He said it passed through his mind that he may have been the victim of a prank or even a criminal attempt to cause a crash and force a fraudulent insurance claim.

Mr Adamson asked him: 'Did you see Luke Wrightson waving his arms?'

He replied: 'I did not.'

Mr Chandrasekar said he recalled seeing Mr Wrightson Sr lying in the road, moments before his car went over him.

Mr Adamson said: 'The family is struggling with understanding how it is that you did not see Mr Wrightson standing in between you and the deceased, waving his arms frantically at you and yet you could see the deceased on the ground.'

He replied: 'That is the first view I had, I can only give you what I have seen.'

Police accident investigator Sgt Ken Riley told the inquest that Mr Chandrasekar was likely to have been affected by 'disability glare' and said studies had shown the average eyesight recovery time was between three and five seconds for drivers.

However because it was not known exactly where Miss Fardoe's car was in relation to the prone Mr Wrightson, it was not possible to say conclusively the impact it had on the collision.  

Assistant coroner John Broadbridge adjourned the hearing until December 6 when it is expected to conclude.