Driver dies after freak accident

Mr Alan Swinfen (85) of Whittle Road in the town, died a day after the crash.

Neighbours said his Vauxhall Astra car, which he had been reversing out of his drive, careered across the road and collided with a wall and a parked car opposite, on Saturday, May 23 at about 4.30pm.

His younger brother Colin Swinfen, who lives in South Kilworth said Alan had been taken to hospital for treatment, and then returned to his house the next day in a taxi.

He collapsed and died after being dropped back at home by the taxi driver.

Mr Derek Anderton, who lives opposite Mr Swinfen, was the first on the scene after the crash, which he described as a freak accident, a “one in a thousand”.

He said the first he knew of the crash was when he saw his neighbour’s shed being shunted down to the bottom of the garden by the impact of the collision.

He rushed out of his house and saw a shaken Mr Swinfen getting out of his car.

“I asked him ‘are you all right Alan?’ and he said he felt a bit shocked and that his foot had been trapped on the pedal” Mr Anderton said.

Several neighbours gathered round Mr Swinfen, saw his hand was badly lacerated, and said he should go to hospital.

Police said Mr Swinfen was initially taken to hospital in Lutterworth, and later conveyed to Leicester Royal Infirmary.

His brother Colin Swinfen said Alan, a retired coach painter and sign writer as well as a garage worker, was later brought back to his home in Whittle Road by taxi.

But after getting out of the taxi back at his house, he collapsed and died.

Mr Swinford was a widower, with no children.

Detective Constable 1504 Seamus Burns is investigating the incident and would like to speak to anyone who witnessed the collision.