A WOMAN who killed a jogger after she accidentally hit the accelerator of her automatic car made a "serious misjudgement" which had "terrible consequences", a police officer has said.

As reported in the Daily Echo, David Harris was running along the seafront in Swanage on April 2 when he was hit by Gillian Richings' Vauxhall Zafira.

Richings, 68, had been leaning out of the open door of the vehicle as she parked it in Shore Road when she accelerated instead of braking.

The open driver's side door hit a lamppost and Richings was dragged from the vehicle. The driverless car when continued moving at speed, ploughing into Mr Harris, who was 70.

Members of the public worked together to lift the vehicle off him. However, Mr Harris, of Ulwell Road, Swanage, died at the scene.

Last week, Richings admitted causing death by driving without due care and attention at Poole Magistrates' Court.

The defendant, of Victoria Avenue in Swanage, was sentenced to a 12-month driving disqualification and ordered to complete 120 hours of community service in the next 12 months.

In addition she must pay a £150 fine and an £85 surcharge.

Inspector Joe Pardey, of Dorset Police's traffic unit, said: “This was an incredibly tragic incident with a very unique set of circumstances and my thoughts remain with the victim's family.

"Gillian Richings' actions were careless and a serious misjudgement that resulted in the most terrible consequences by not putting her car into neutral and turning off her engine before checking its position in the road.”