AN ELDERLY man with bad eyesight died after he walked into the path of a car as he attempted to cross the road.
Retired meter reader Colin Dent, of Station Road, Wombwell, was on his way to visit his daughter Helen Carr in Brampton, an inquest was told.
It is thought he wanted to go and buy a watch before visiting and was preoccupied with that. He got off his bus in Knollbeck Lane and was seriously injured after walking into the side of a passing car. He later died in hospital.
Mr Dent, 79, was still active and regularly went out. He had glaucoma and cataracts which may have contributed to the accident, deputy coroner Judith Naylor said.
The car was being driven by Martin Hall, of Darfield, who said: “I didn't even see Mr Dent step from the kerb. I thought somebody had thrown a brick or something like that.”
Tearfully Mr Hall told Mr Dent's family how sorry he was and that he had sleepless nights thinking about the accident. “I'm so upset,” he added.
Mrs Naylor gave a verdict that the crash was a pure accident and Mr Hall would not have had time to react.
