A LETHAL combination of speed and lack of braking distance resulted in a Morgan car being involved in a fatal road accident in Worcestershire.

Seventy-four-year-old Catherine Ralphs, known by her middle name Marjorie, died instantly in the accident in the summer.

She and her husband of 48 years, Stanley, had been turning into the Blackmore Caravan Site, on the Worcester to Hanley Swan road, for the start of an 11-day break on Wednesday, August 21.

An inquest into her death yesterday heard how a Morgan Aero-8 car, coming from the opposite direction, slid into the side of the couple's Rover, which was towing a caravan.

"I heard a noise like tearing cloth, that's the only way I can describe it," said Mr Ralphs, who was driving.

"I turned my head and, looking through the side window, I could see the other vehicle coming towards me. There was smoke spilling from its wheels. I couldn't accelerate as there wasn't time for me to consider what to do next."

New Zealander Nathan Graham, who was working with Malvern's world famous Morgan Motor Company on a racing car, was driving the Aero-8.

In a police interview he said he did not know there was a caravan site on the other side of the bend.

He said he thought he was driving between 40 and 50mph.

Investigator

"If I'd known there was a caravan park there I wouldn't have gone through at that speed," said Mr Graham.

"I'd been round the bend four or five times before but usually when it was dark.

"The car had already entered the turn. At that point I just hit the brakes. We started to go off the road.

"It was beyond my control."

A police accident investigator estimated that the Morgan probably hit the Rover at 40mph due to a lack of braking distance.

Deputy coroner for Worcestershire Tim Sherwood recorded a verdict of accidental death at the inquest held in Stourport-on-Severn yesterday.

"There wasn't anywhere the Morgan could go to try and avoid that collision," he said. "There wasn't enough distance to brake and anywhere for him to go."

Graham admitted driving with two defective tyres in October. Worcester magistrates gave him three penalty points and a six-month conditional discharge.