A WOMAN who was killed after being hit by two cars in Holt Heath may have crossed the road after looking in the wrong direction.

The theory was put forward at an inquest into the death of 20-year-old Camelia Cutitaru during a hearing at County Hall on Tuesday, March 29.

Miss Cutitaru, who was from Romania, worked as a picker and packer at Top Barn Activity Centre's farm and died on Worcester Road, the A443, at around 5pm on Sunday, November 22 shortly after getting off a bus.

The hearing heard how Tim Joesbury-Clarke was driving home in his black Kia Cee'd with his wife and young daughter, on the night of the incident.

Mr Joesbury-Clarke said it was pitch black as he approached Top Barn Farm at around 40 to 50mph.

He said he saw a grey shape on his side of the vehicle, in the middle of the road, but had no time to react before impact, which shattered his windscreen.

"I was hysterical," Mr Joesbury-Clarke said.

"I said something to my wife along the lines of 'what was that? I think I have hit a person'.

"I was completely overcome with shock."

The coroner asked if there had been anything happening in the car that distracted him before impact, to which he replied "no, nothing".

A statement was read out from his wife Ana Joesbury-Clarke, who said she was the one who phoned the emergency services.

"I am in total shock, and devastated by what happened," she said.

"My heart goes out to her friends and family."

The inquest also heard from Jason Emery, who was driving a Vauxhall Vectra in the opposite direction.

He said he saw a still frame object, and a split-second later there was an impact to the passenger side and rear of his vehicle.

The coroner asked if he had been distracted prior to the incident, to which he replied no.

He said when he stopped the vehicle he could see a body in the road.

Both drivers who had hit Ms Cutitaru were breathalysed, but neither had been drinking alcohol.

A statement was also read out from Brian Robbins, the driver of a Diamond Bus who had dropped off Ms Cutitaru near the farm.

He described her as around 5ft 6ins, slim and pretty, and she had been wearing dark clothing.

He said nothing of note happened on the journey, adding "she did not seem drunk or like anything was wrong."

PC Powell, who investigated the incident, said the vehicles involved were mechanically sound, and said he was satisfied both had been driving within the speed limit with dipped lights at the time of the accident.

He speculated whether Ms Cutitaru had begun crossing the road looking in the wrong direction, as cars drive on the right hand side in Romania, and whether she had been hidden from view to Mr Joesbury-Clarke if she walked behind the bus.

"I have to conclude that poor or incorrect observation by Ms Cutitaru had led to her not being able to perceive the oncoming Kia," he said.

Assistant coroner Andrew Cox said the medical cause of death was multiple injuries, and recorded a verdict of road traffic collision explaining it would have been recorded as an accidental death, before a recent law change.

He said Mr Joesbury-Clarke became aware only a split second before impact, and neither driver had time to stop or take avoidable action.

He said it was matter of speculation as to whether Ms Cutitaru looked in the wrong direction, but it was "certainly a possibility", and added she may been wearing headphones at the time of the incident.

"What has happened is a tragedy, a young girl in her prime is no longer with us," the coroner added.