Shepherd's Bush Woman Killed by Ferrari

Victim pinned against cemetery railings in North Acton

Details of the events leading up to the death of a Shepherd's Bush woman who was hit by a Ferrari have been related in court.

The incident occurred in January 2008. The driver, 26 year old William Lings from Watford, had just driven the deluxe sports car out of the HR Owen dealership in North Acton. He was a mechanic taking it for a test drive after new equipment had been fitted to the vehicle. 52 year old Jennifer England was pinned against the railings of a cemetery on Chase Road after he lost control. The car narrowly missed another pedestrian before hitting Miss England. It then careered across the road and hit a phone mast before coming to a stop. It had been raining heavily that day.

Lings told police he was driving at 20 mph at the time of the incident. When he got out of the car he ran to the victim to give First Aid.

The prosecution is alleging dangerous driving saying that as a mechanic with over 5 year's experience of dealing with high performance cars, Lings should have driven more carefully. They do not allege he was speeding. Lings has admitted to driving carelessly but has denied the charge of causing death by dangerous driving.

Miss England lived with her disabled sister and was on her way to work when she was killed.

The incident came only a few weeks after Rose Cleary, a pensioner, was killed on North Acton Road. Mrs Cleary died just yards away from the spot where 5-year-old Rachel Popoola had been knocked down by a hit and run driver only 3 weeks beforehand. Another woman, Maria Kishak, was killed by a hit and run driver on the same crossing as Rachel just over 3 years ago.

Residents say traffic along Chase Road and North Acton Road is extremely heavy as the roads are used by drivers accessing warehouses and businesses on The Park Royal Industrial Estate - one of the biggest in Europe. The two roads are also being used as a rat run by drivers cutting through between the A40 and A406.

March 23, 2009