A WOMAN died following a tragic sequence of events as she attempted to cross one of south Cumbria's busiest dual carriageways in pitch darkness, an inquest has heard.

Nichola Tyson, 35, died in a fatal road accident on the A590 near to Levens in an accident described by police as "horrendous".

The former hotel worker, described by her family as "caring and vibrant", was struck by three vehicles as they travelled towards the Bretargh Holt roundabout.

She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Cumbria Constabulary's specialist accident investigator officer, Steven Wakefield, said it was virtually impossible for the motorists to have seen Miss Tyson on such a dark night in time for them to react and avoid her.

Miss Tyson, who was from Millom but had been living in Oxenholme, near Kendal, for around five years at the time of her death, was walking from Milnthorpe to Kendal with her boyfriend Andrew Hearn on March 1 last year after missing a bus from the town.

The hearing, held at County Hall, in Kendal yesterday, heard Mr Hearn had decided a taxi would be too expensive.

Several witnesses later reported having to swerve to avoid the couple, who were wearing dark clothing, as they walked along the A6 before they reached the A590.

In written statements, Cumbria coroner Kally Cheema was told Mr Hearn had appeared drunk and had been observed staggering as he walked - while Miss Tyson, who had multiple sclerosis, was found not to have consumed any alcohol at all.

Mr Hearn said: "We approached the dual carriageway and the bus stop was just over the road.

"I was trying not to spend money on taxis. Looking back it was the wrong decision. She should be here now. It's all my fault."

Miss Tyson was said by Mr Hearn to have used cannabis on a daily basis to help with the symptoms of her MS.

Her mother, Josephine Tyson, told the hearing her daughter struggled to walk any distance, particularly in cold weather, because of her condition.

But Mrs Tyson added she had recently been accepted onto a new drug trial offering potential improvements to her symptoms which she had been excited to take part in.

A toxicology report found traces of cannabis in her system, but not at a level thought to have impeded her judgment at the time of the accident.

Van driver Daniel Thompson was travelling to Penrith from Ulverston at around 7.30pm that night when he felt his company vehicle hit an unknown object.

Mr Thompson recounted that as he ran back to the scene he was attacked by Mr Hearn, who appeared out of the darkness and punched him repeatedly in the head.
Mr Hearn was then arrested in connection with the assault, police said.

The court then heard that moments later a car driven by GSK accountant David Millar also struck Miss Tyson as she lay in the road.

She was then struck by a third vehicle driven by Barrow football coach Thomas Penny, the inquest was told.

Mr Penny said: "I didn't see anyone or anything. I was in shock. I saw Mr Hearn and I thought he was really drunk.

"If anyone could have done anything differently, I am sure they would have. If I could have saved her, I would have done."

Coroner Miss Cheema recorded a conclusion of death resulting from an accident. She added the drivers could not have avoided the collision.

Miss Cheema said: "Nichola Tyson died on March 1 2016 following a road traffic collision which occurred as she attempted to cross the A590.

"Miss Tyson had been walking with her partner when she was struck by a vehicle causing her to fall to the ground.

"While on the ground, she was struck by two other vehicles and as as a result suffered fatal injuries.

"She died as a result of an accident."

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