THERE is ‘nothing to explain’ the cause of a car crash which killed two Northwich women in their 70s, a coroner has ruled.

Jean Hargreaves, 74 and from Weaverham, died at the scene of the crash in Northwich Road, Hartford, on October 27, while 73-year-old Susan Shaw from Davenham died in hospital on Christmas Eve as a result of her injuries.

Mrs Hargreaves had been driving a Ford Focus in the Northwich direction from Weaverham when she ‘failed to negotiate’ a left-hand curve in the road and crashed into a Renault Kadjar, in which Mrs Shaw was a front-seat passenger.

Her husband was driving and had braked and swerved to try and prevent the crash, but a forensic collision investigator called it ‘unavoidable’ due to the Ford’s position on the wrong side of the road as the Renault came around the bend towards Weaverham.

Mr Shaw said: “When I first saw [the Ford], it was completely on my side. It just seemed to be following the curve of the road around in that lane. There was no sign of breaking or slowing down.

“I waited and waited to see whether she was going to move across, and at the last minute I tried to turn right to go around it, but it was too late. There was no movement from her car left or right at all.

“I was trying to get around it. it was unavoidable at that stage, and I realised that when I heard an almighty bang.

“I broke three ribs – I was the lucky one.”

Witnesses said emergency services arrived quickly on the scene, with both cars on grass verges either side of the road. They said some drivers drove through the debris, and others turned around.

Mrs Shaw was conscious and was taken to Royal Stoke Hospital, with severe injuries to her spine, ribs and sternum. Sadly, she died on December 24 – almost two months later – due to bronchopneumonia.

Collisions investigator PC John Edwards said the road and cars were in good condition, and estimated that Mrs Hargreaves had been travelling at 53mph – and without a seatbelt – despite the 40mph limit. Mr Shaw had slowed down to 10mph at the point of impact.

PC Edwards said: “Once the Ford has entered the Weaverham-bound lane, the collision is unavoidable. We don’t know why it has entered the Weaverham-bound lane.”

Offering his condolences to both families, coroner Heath Westerman said: “The B5153 was in good condition, with nothing in the road to explain the incident that followed.

“Sadly, this crash resulted in the deaths of Susan Shaw and Jean Hargreaves.”