Police have concluded their investigation into the death of an elderly woman involved in a collision with a mobility scooter on the Isle of Wight.
Lillian Macey, 90, of Harlow, Essex, died following the incident in Sandown High Street on Tuesday, July 21.
She had walked across a zebra crossing, and had reached the pavement when a scooter, ridden by a 76-year-old man, collided with her.
She was taken to St Mary’s Hospital, Newport with serious leg injuries and transferred the next day to Salisbury, where she died on Thursday, July 23.
Following consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service, the decision was made not to prosecute the mobility scooter rider.
Inspector Allan Peacock from Hampshire Constabulary’s Road Deaths Investigation team said:
“Our thoughts are with Mrs Macey’s family at this time.
“We conducted a thorough and extensive investigation and sought to explore all the possibilities from the outset.
“Officers on patrol in the area at the time of the collision were on scene immediately and spoke to several witnesses.
“With the help of the media, we identified further witnesses, and I’d like to thank everyone who was in Sandown on the day who came forward with information.
“Our officers went through CCTV and interviewed the scooter rider to gather as much evidence as possible and present it to the Crown Prosecution Service for review.”
In a statement, a Crown Prosecution Service spokesperson said:
“The deceased, Mrs Macey, was hospitalised as a result of being knocked over by a disability scooter and unfortunately died in hospital.
“The police investigation was reviewed by Tim Cole, District Crown Prosecutor (DCP) for the Isle of Wight.
“He concluded that the standard of driving of the motor scooter fell below that of a competent and careful driver and was careless.
“However, the drivers of such vehicles are exempt by law from prosecution for either careless or dangerous driving.
“Other offences of assault and wanton or furious driving were considered.
“However, the DCP decided that there was insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction for those offences and therefore the driver will not be prosecuted.”
Mrs Macey’s family has been informed of the decision.
Police are now preparing a file for the coroner.
Notes: The exemptions apply under Section 20 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970.
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