A retired managing director killed himself and a married couple after accidentally pressing the accelerator instead of the brake pedal on his powerful new Audi, an inquest heard today.
Eye-witnesses said Humphrey Pickering, 81, mistakenly 'floored' the Audi A8, which hit a group of pedestrians walking along the seafront in the town of Beaumaris, on the island of Anglesey, at 55mph – 35mph over the 20mph speed limit - last summer.
Reverend Stephen Burch and his wife Katherine, both 65, who were visiting North Wales from their home, in Alcester, Warwickshire, died at the scene. Mr Pickering, who was not wearing a seat belt, also suffered fatal chest injuries.
Police crash investigator Meilir Hywel told an inquest, in Caernarfon, that Mr Pickering had pressed the accelerator pedal of his automatic grey car three times, causing it to accelerate sharply from 25mph to 55mph in just five seconds before the fatal collision, close to the town's historic pier.
CCTV footage showed no brake lights were activated as the car swerved erratically for 100 metres (330ft) along Alma Street in the resort, ploughing into four people, at 2.45pm on August 28 last year.
