Student's fatal crossing error

8:05pm Tuesday 5th February 2008

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A STUDENT was fatally injured when she tried to use a pelican crossing without activating the button as she returned from a night out with friends.

Psychology student Vikki Spear, 20, was half way across the road when she was hit by a private hire taxi.

Seconds earlier Vikki, of Grimshaw Street, Great Harwood, who was in her second year at Manchester University, had been playfighting on the pavement with her friends, an inquest was told.

She died three days later from massive head and brain injuries.

The former pupil at St Augustine's RC High School, Billington, and St Mary's College, Blackburn, had been out with three friends at the time of the accident, last March.

They had attended a concert in the city before ending up in a takeaway near her flat in Fallowfield.

They had all been drinking and Manchester's deputy coroner Leonard Gorodkin said it was clear that the group were all in "high spirits" before Vicki was struck, at around 4am.

Friend Catherine Thomas said she stopped on seeing car headlights and allowed the vehicle to pass - and assumed Vicky would do the same.

The driver, in evidence, claimed he was travelling at about 25mph and hadn't seen Vikki until after the accident.

The group, partly affected by alcohol, hadn't activated the button before deciding to cross the road, said the coroner.

Recording a verdict of accidental death Mr Gorodkin said that what had happened was an "absolute tragedy".

He said: "Vikki was a loving daughter full of life and it is extremely sad that this should happen."

Speaking at the time of her death her parent's David and Madeline said: "Vikki was a beautiful and beloved daughter and a loving big sister to Sophie.

She was so full of life and will be greatly missed by her family and friends."

A spokesman for Greater Manchester police said that no arrests or charges had resulted from the accident.