By Staff Reporter

Last updated 11:35, Monday, 12 May 2008

A 72-YEAR-OLD great-grandmother died of a heart attack 18 hours after being involved in a minor car crash in Cleator Moor.

A coroner ruled that Maisie Leng, of Ash Grove, Whitehaven, died as a result of the stress caused by the collision that happened at the mini roundabout, near Cleator Moor Co-Op, on July 7 last year.

Although Mrs Leng was not hurt in the incident, she was said to be shaken and agitated at the scene.

She did not receive medical treatment and went home. However, she called her son, Alistair, later that day complaining of feeling dizzy and unwell. She was admitted to West Cumberland Hospital and died the following morning.

In recording his verdict, north and west Cumbria coroner John Taylor said: “It is more likely than not that the stress of the incident did cause Mrs Leng to become unwell and she died of a heart attack, although she did not suffer any direct injury.”

Mr Leng told the inquest: “She was a competent driver and had never had an accident before.”

Mr Leng added that his mother, a retired computer consultant at Sellafield, was “an exceptional woman who loved life”.

The inquest heard from witnesses that Mrs Leng, driving a Nissan Almera, collided with a blue Ford Mondeo, being driven by Alan Wilcock.

One witness, Eric Fitzpatrick, said: “None of the vehicles involved were being driven at high speed or erratically. There seemed to be very little impact.”

Another, Claire McAvoy, added: “There was nothing Alan Wilcock could have done to avoid the accident.”

PC Andrew Mason, who attended the scene, confirmed that both drivers provided negative roadside breath tests, and the police collision investigation unit concluded that both cars were in good mechanical order.