Overview
- A Nissan Qashqai driven by 76-year-old Brenda Marriott struck Destiny Harrison, 24, and her five-year-old daughter Linnea as they used a Victoria Road pedestrian crossing in March 2024, killing the child at the scene and the mother later at Derriford Hospital.
- Mrs Marriott told the inquest in a written statement that she was following a white car through a green light at about 30mph, saw "two shadows of pedestrians," braked immediately and believes the pedestrians misjudged the lights.
- Pc Mel Inness, the forensic collision investigator, said there were no mechanical defects with the car and no scene evidence from which to determine the traffic light colour, the vehicle’s speed at impact, or whether emergency braking occurred.
- Eyewitnesses said they heard a loud impact and screams, and one witness described the pair walking calmly across the crossing, but none reported seeing the light colour or the moment the pedestrians stepped into the road.
- The coroner’s inquest is continuing as pathologist evidence on the victims’ injuries is read and officials consider the unresolved timing and signal questions that will shape any factual conclusions or recommendations.