Nurse may have fallen asleep at the wheel

Lesley Ray, 55, of Farnfold Road, Steyning, died when her Suzuki Alto drifted across the centre line and into the path of an 18-tonne Renault 220 flatbed lorry on the A283 Steyning bypass.

Forensic collision investigator PC Simon Lane told Horsham Magistrates' Court on Thursday it was likely Mrs Ray had fallen asleep at the wheel.

He said: "I believe it is very likely Mrs Ray fell asleep or had a microsleep, which is usually experienced by narcoleptics or the severely sleep-deprived.

"Fatigue is a common killer. People do fall asleep at the wheel. It is something we are not really in control of.

"We have all experienced lapses when driving when we can't remember a section of the road, or if we experience a long blink. You either wake up from that or you don't.

"She is unlikely to have been aware that a collision was likely to occur or had occurred."

West Sussex deputy coroner Dr David Skipp heard Mrs Ray had been complaining of feeling tired before she left Worthing Hospital at around 8am on Friday, June 30, after completing an 11-hour shift.

Ward sister Tamaris Ayles said fellow members of staff had reported Mrs Ray had said she was tired and not "feeling herself".

She said: "She was always full of energy and bright. She seemed a lot younger than her years."

Lynda Cappelli had been driving behind Mrs Ray's bright yellow Suzuki, which was travelling northwards when it started to drift into the wrong lane.

She said: "It was like she was moving to overtake a bicycle and I just expected her to come back over, but she didn't.

"You think back and you think 'what could I have done. Why didn't I sound my horn to warn her?' But there wasn't time. It was over in a matter of seconds."

Lorry driver Julian Ray was working for McVeigh Parker and Co Ltd, in Adversane, Billingshurst, at the time of the crash and was travelling to Portslade on the bypass in the opposite direction.

He said he had spotted the car because of its bright yellow paint and had seen it start to drift in front of him.

He said: "I see that kind of thing every day. People lose concentration and then they correct themselves, but she just kept coming.

"When I realised, I steered hard to avoid her, but there wasn't enough time." He said he no longer drove lorries, although he still held an HGV licence. Mrs Ray's Suzuki hit the side of the lorry and scraped along it, hitting the back wheel.

Consultant pathologist Dr Colin Hunter-Craig told the court Mrs Ray had sustained massive injuries and died instantly. He said she was otherwise fit and healthy and had no problems with her sight.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, Dr Skipp said: "The evidence is compelling. The witness saw the car in front gradually drift across the road, across the white line, and strike the lorry.

"I don't think there is any blame that can be attributed to Mr Ray.

"She had been working the night shift at Worthing Hospital the previous night and had possibly complained of feeling tired or not feeling well.

"We don't quite know what happened inside the car at the point she started to drift. There is the possibility of excess tiredness from the work she had been doing."

Nephew Lee Goossens said: "Lesley was a much-loved and integral part of our family and will be sadly missed, but always remembered."