Driver is arrested after woman dies in collision

AN elderly pedestrian died in the city centre following an accident with a lorry which allegedly failed to stop.

The local woman, in her eighties, was taken to the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital but died from her injuries following the accident in Sidwell Street.

The road was closed for several hours while police investigated.

The driver of a yellow HGV vehicle involved in the accident allegedly failed to stop at the scene. He was later stopped by police on the A30, close to the Turks Head car park near the Daisymount junction.

Investigations are continuing into whether the driver knew his vehicle had been in collision with the woman. The 41-year-old driver, from Tiptree in Essex, has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by driving without due care and attention.

Police are viewing CCTV images from the time of the incident and are keen to speak to any witnesses.

Inspector Tim Galbraith, speaking from the scene, said: "All we know at this moment is that an elderly lady was in collision with a large goods vehicle. She sustained fatal injuries.

"Officers have been collating evidence, looking at things like markings on the road."

Shocked witnesses described the accident, which took place at around 1pm yesterday, as distressing.

An employee at city taxi firm Club Cars, based at Exeter bus station, arrived on the scene just minutes after the accident.

The 35-year-old, who did not wish to be named, said: "I got there about 10 minutes after it happened.

"The woman didn't look too good but there were such crowds it was difficult to see. People were saying that a lady had died."

And a worker at Johnson's Cleaners, in Sidwell Street, described the accident as "grim".

"I didn't know what was happening until I saw all the ambulances."

Adam Walmesley, 21, was near the scene when the accident happened.

He said: "There were police cars everywhere. I counted at least six at one time. I don't really know what happened but there was certainly something pretty serious given all the police."

The collision, which happened on one of the city's busiest streets, caused traffic chaos as buses were diverted away from the scene of the accident. City centre buses which operate via High Street were diverted into New North Road, Longbrook Street, and York Road before turning back into Sidwell Street.

A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall police said: "Police, along with the ambulance service, were called to Sidwell Street in Exeter after a serious road traffic collision. A woman was in collision with a yellow HGV lorry.

"Sidwell Street was closed between the junctions at New North Road and Bampfylde Street while investigations took place at the scene."

Police are appealing for any witnesses to the collision to contact them on 08452 777444 quoting log number 404 of November 20.