A pregnant mum who pulled off the motorway onto the hard shoulder to take a phone call was critically injured when another driver collided with her car, an inquest hearing has been told. Frankie Hough, 38, died in hospital two days after the crash.
Frankie was driving southbound on the M66 at 3.10pm on Saturday, May 13, when she stopped to answer her phone. Adil Iqbal, 22, of Hope Street in Accrington, has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving and two offences of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
At the time of the crash Ms Hough was in the car with her two young sons, nine-year-old Tommy and two-year-old Rocky, and her four-year-old nephew Tobias. Rocky suffered minor injuries but the two other children remain in hospital, reports MEN.
Coroners' officer Tracy Bunn said single Franki was a 'reiki practitioner'. She told the court: "Frankie was traveling on the M66 heading towards Manchester. Frankie pulled over to the hard shoulder. It's believed at this time she was answering a phone call.
"A vehicle being driven at excessive speed lost control causing the vehicle to collide with the rear of Frankie's car, causing it to rotate and come to rest in the main carriageway."
The officer said a post-mortem examination concluded Frankie died of head injuries.
Assistant Coroner Matthew Cox adjourned inquest proceedings until the conclusion of the criminal proceedings.
