A PENSIONER who died after being knocked down on the A64 last Christmas was an Alzheimer's sufferer who had wandered onto the busy dual carriageway.

Marie Pearson, 71, of Stockton Lane, was reported missing by her family on Saturday December 23 and was found by passing motorists near the junction of the A64 and the A19 slip road just after 8pm. She had suffered serious injuries from a collision with a car.

An inquest at York heard how Mrs Pearson suffered from Alzheimer's and had gone missing in the city in the afternoon.

Scores of witness statements read out in court reported sightings of the elderly lady in town and then walking along the A64 going eastbound from the Bishopthorpe junction.

Many commented that she was walking "purposefully", but occasionally swerving into the nearside lane. Some thought she had broken down.

It was not until later that motorists stopped after seeing what they thought was a dead animal or a body at the side of the road. An ambulance was called but Mrs Pearson died at York District Hospital from her head injuries.

The court heard that Andrew Wright, 43, of Harrogate, had delivered some presents to his sister's house and was driving his Mercedes car to York Railway Station when he hit something.

Traffic constable John Russell said Mr Wright stopped and checked the area but couldn't see anything and drove on to York railway station to collect his aunt.

He then rang his sister and said that he thought he had hit something and could someone go and check. When his brother-in-law got to the A64 it was closed and he alerted the police to what they knew of the situation.

Accident investigator David Foster, of North Yorkshire Police, said that he conducted a reconstruction of the accident and found that the driver would have had less than two seconds from seeing the woman to the impact. No driver would have had time to brake or avoid her.

Jonathan Leech, deputy coroner, recorded a verdict of accidental death, stating the cause of death was a head injury and Alzheimer's.

Mr Wright appeared before York magistrates on September 17 on a charge of failing to stop at an accident. The case was dismissed.

Updated: 08:39 Thursday, October 04, 2001