A PENSIONER was killed after an elderly driver made an error by hitting the accelerator in her car as opposed to the brake.

Avril Hockley’s vehicle knocked over shop signs along Whitefield Road, New Milton, when she believed she was slowing the car down to give way for oncoming traffic.

The 80-year-old’s Rover eventually crashed into a telegraph pole, overturning her vehicle and fatally knocking into pedestrian Hazel Nash on November 1, 2016.

Mrs Nash, 89, was taken to Southampton General Hospital where medics were unable to save her.

Southampton Crown Court heard that doctors described her injuries as “catastrophic” and “unsurvivable”.

Jane Terry, prosecuting, told the court that at around 1.45pm , Hockley had pulled up near the Lloyds Bank. As she went to leave, Hockley believed she saw another car behind her so hit ‘the brakes’.

Miss Terry said: “One witness said he thought the car must have been stolen due to the speed the car was driving at.

“It mowed down barriers before colliding with the telegraph pole.”

Miss Terry added that a condition called sudden unintended acceleration syndrome appears in more mature drivers, which convinces people they are carrying out the correct manoeuvre despite not.

A statement from Mrs Nash’s son Geoffrey was read to the court.

He said: “On the day she was killed she was walking to her curling club.”

He added: “She was so well loved by so many people and we have been deprived of more memories with her.”

During the incident, Hockley herself received serious injuries including fractures to eight ribs and bleeding on the brain.

The court heard that prior to the incident, Hockley had a perfect driving licence.

Mitigating, Jason Taylor told the court that since the crash, Hockley had handed in her driving licence and would “never drive again”.

“She wants to say exactly what she said when she was first interviewed by police,” Mr Taylor said.

“I am so sorry to the family. I think about her and her family every day. Although I do not remember what happened, I think about it.

“I am aware of the pain and fear I have caused.”

He added: “It is quite clear that this was a momentary error that occurred when the brain tells the person to do something to what the body does.”

Hockley pleaded guilty to death by dangerous driving as she believed she was not well enough to face a trial.

In sentencing her, Judge Christopher Parker QC said: “The irony is that in trying to be safe and braking to give way to another vehicle, it led to your vehicle’s acceleration.”

Hockley, of St Thomas park, Lymington, was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months.

She was disqualified from driving for three years and will have to sit a retest if she wants to gain her licence again.