Pensioner dies after minor traffic accident

Aug 24 2011 by John Sutton, Birkenhead News

MERSEYSIDE Police is appealing for witnesses after a man collapsed and died following a minor road traffic collision in Bebington.

At 11.10am on Monday police officers were called by the ambulance service to Cross Lane after an elderly motorist collapsed at the roadside.

On arrival, officers established that the victim, an 83-year-old local man, had been driving a silver VW Polo which, minutes earlier, had been involved in a low-speed collision with a Ford Transit pick-up truck.

Following this collision, which happened at the junction of Cross Lane and Borrowdale Road, both drivers agreed to exchange details at a nearby parade of shops.

The driver of the Polo is believed to have collapsed shortly after getting out of his car and an ambulance was called. He was taken to Arrowe Park Hospital for treatment but was pronounced dead an hour later.

The driver of the Ford van, who is aged 41, was not injured and remained at the scene. The victim's wife, who is aged 71, was a front seat passenger in the Polo and did not suffer any injuries.

Cross Lane was closed between Stanton Road and Heath Road until 1pm to allow collision investigators to attend the scene and for both vehicles to be recovered.

Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to call Merseyside Police's collision investigation department on 0151 777 5771.