A CORONER has warned of the dangers of driving while unwell after hearing how a Bridport carpenter lost both his legs when a pensioner crashed her car into his van.

West Dorset Coroner Michael Johnston said that Jean Ellen Hebron, 90, suffered from a chest and bladder infection - and that it was a dangerous mixture to have on the road.

He said: "There is a warning here that is if you don't feel well you shouldn't go out in a car. Simple."

Mr Johnston recorded a verdict of accidental death after hearing how she died after crashing into Adrian Robert Lessey as he loaded up his van.

The family of Mrs Hebron, of Pytte Gardens, Clyst St George, Exeter, told police that they did not know why the pensioner had driven to Dorset.

She was driving her blue Peugeot 205 along the A35 towards Bridport after dark on Sunday, November 26, last year, when she went straight into the back of a well-lit parked Fiat Ducato van. Mr Lessey, 46, of Elizabeth Avenue, Bridport, had been loading tools into his van some time after 6pm when the car hit him from behind, causing him to lose both his legs from below the knee, and killing Mrs Hebron.

Mr Lessey, who attended the inquest in a wheelchair, said he had been packing up and getting ready for the next day's work when the crash happened.

He said that he could not recall the accident, but remembered someone shaking him and saying wake up.' He said the evening was not actually dark, but twilight' and he had put the van's back and hazard lights on and opened one of the van's rear doors, but the lights were not obstructed.

Mr Lessey said he was very angry about losing both his legs which would have a pretty disastrous effect on his life, and did not know' if he would be able to continue working. The coroner heard that Mr Lessey was now living with his parents and reliant upon them.

PC Philip Pulvis, of Dorset Police, said that there were no marks to indicate that the car driver had attempted to brake.

He said that the car had been going at 32mph or more, and there had been approximately five metres of road available for a vehicle to pass.

He said the white van would have provided a good contrast against the black background, the rear lights were clear and nothing would have obstructed their view.

PC Pulvis added that the Mrs Hebron's lights were also on and there was nothing that explains why she should drive straight into the back of a parked van'.

In his summary, Mr Johnston said Mrs Hebron's secondary condition of a chest and urine infection were the likely cause of this accident.

He said: "It is unfortunately well known that elderly people with chest and particularly urine infections can display symptoms which can be described as minor strokes.

"Very tragically for Mr Lessey he happened to be loading into the back of his van when this lady with diminished abilities drove into the back of it.

"I'm sure she would be horrified if she knew."

A verdict of accidental death was given with a note that Mrs Hebron 'drove when disabled and confused through illness and struck a parked, well-lit van'.