Great-gran, 65, killed when her mobility scooter sped down road and crashed as she was unable to use brakes
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A GREAT-Grandma was killed after her mobility scooter crashed at speed because she was unable to use the brakes. Angela Carney, 65, was riding the 2005 model mobility scooter when she crashed on the A643 Westgate in Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire, on September 26 last year.
![[Photo of Angela Carney.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/scooter-crash-great-gran-65-964113505.jpg?strip=all&w=436)
She smashed into a black Nissan Navara and was rushed to hospital but died from her injuries. The inquest heard the driver of the Navara was unable to avoid the smash and Mrs Carney suffered serious chest injuries and later died. It was found that the scooter was roadworthy, after being bought second hand from a neighbour.
But there was no fail-safe braking mechanism "to enable an emergency stop to take place in the event of the inadvertence of the rider", the court heard. Following the conclusion of an inquest, a Prevention of Future Deaths report has been issued by West Yorkshire senior coroner Martin Fleming after it was found that Mrs Carney had "inadvertently placed her scooter into freewheel drive and this prevented her from braking or taking evasive action".
This meant she was travelling downhill at speed down the footpath on Westcliffe Road before she careered into the path of the Nissan. The report says: "Before setting off (Angela) moved her scooter out of her front garden and onto the footpath on Westcliffe Road by activating the free wheel mode via a lever near the rear wheel.
"Westcliffe Road has a 4.7 per cent downward gradient on the southerly approach to a give way junction with Westgate. Angela, contrary to the instruction manual did not take the scooter off the free wheel drive by engaging the engine with her ignition key.
