A PENSIONER who knocked down and killed an 83-year-old pedestrian on a busy Poole road was travelling no more than 20mph at the moment on contact, a court heard.

Janet Chapman, 68, of Florence Road, Bournemouth, knocked down and killed Mary Wallwork, 83, as she was using the puffin crossing in Herbert Avenue at 7.45pm on Wednesday, February 19, 2014.

She in on trial at Bournemouth Crown Court for causing death by careless driving.

At Bournemouth Crown Court yesterday Chapman told the jury Herbert Avenue was a very busy road and the junction with Stanfield Road was “horrible.”

“I am always really cautious at that junction because I don’t like it - it’s horrible,” said Chapman.

“When I pulled out of Stanfield Road I didn’t see any pedestrians on the crossing.

“I wasn’t going very fast because I never pull out of that junction quickly.

“It wasn’t until I heard a thud and saw a body going over my bonnet I realised.

“At that point I pulled my car over and went back to the scene to see if the person was okay. It was a terrible thing to see.”

Chapman told the court she hadn’t been distracted in any way while driving that night.

“I just don’t know why I didn’t see her,” she said.

The court heard that the lights at the puffin crossing were green by the time Chapman reached them in her car and that she was likely travelling no faster at 20mph at the point of impact.

During her interview with the police Chapman said the incident would stay with her for the rest of her life and that she felt very sorry for Mrs Wallwork’s family.

The prosecution claims Chapman was preoccupied with making it out of Stanfield Road that she wasn’t paying enough attention to pedestrians using the crossing.

The trial continues.