A WOMAN died after the van she was a passenger in crashed when the driver was distracted by a dog, an inquest heard.

Susan Austin was travelling with her husband William last July along the A272 towards Winchester in their silver Ford Transit when it clipped a tree and flipped on its side.

The van slid off the nearside verge and collided with another tree, killing Mrs Austin, 58. Her husband and their dog were trapped in the vehicle for more than an hour before being freed by the fire service.

Mr Austin, 59, of Station Road, Chilbolton, said the couple had been taking their Labrador-type dog Darcy to the vets when it became agitated and distracted him.

He said: “The dog was next to Sue in the footwell. I just said ‘Stay, Darcy’ and then I felt us hit soft ground and that was it.”

Deputy Coroner for Central Hampshire Simon Burge, recorded a verdict of accidental death.