Leicestershire woman dies after being hit by police van which was out searching for her

A vulnerable mother-of-three who stormed out after a conversation with her boyfriend was hit by a police van sent out to find her.

Helen Loveday, 52, of Market Harborough, had been drinking wine with her sister, Rachel Hurn, at her sister’s home in Norfolk.

After a phone conversation with her boyfriend, Glen Galway, she left the house in Wreningham talking about “killing herself” and her sister called 999.

Ms Hurn told an inquest her sister, who had been married and divorced twice, suffered from anxiety, health problems and had a "split personality disorder".

She said the couple, who lived together with Mr Galway’s daughter in Market Harborough, had been "bickering about money" and that Ms Loveday had also rowed with Mr Galway about Ms Hurn not visiting them in Leicestershire.

She said in her statement to the inquest she shared "about a bottle and a quarter of rose wine" with her sister that evening.

Ms Hurn said her sister was "angry" after the phone call with Mr Galway and said "something about killing herself” before she left the house on the evening of July 27 last year.

She said: “I can't remember the exact words”.

Ms Hurn then dialled 999.

Her sister was walking in the neighbouring village of Hethel when she was struck by a police van at about 10.20pm.

Motorist Michael Broad saw the police van ahead of him come "shuddering to a halt" before the officer got out and put both hands to his head.

Mr Broad said he estimated the van was driving at 55mph shortly before the collision and was "obviously hurrying somewhere”. But he said: “I didn't consider the driving inappropriate".

The inquest has not yet heard from the officer.

Ms Loveday was flown to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge in an air ambulance piloted by Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, but she died two days later from a traumatic brain injury, the inquest heard.

Summarising the evidence, Norfolk coroner Jacqueline Lake said: "During the evening of July 27 Helen became upset and left the property.

"Her sister telephoned the police and told them Helen had run off and there were concerns for her welfare."

She said police sent units to search the area and one of the vans struck Ms Loveday.

"I would ask you to bear in mind that the incident occurred in the evening when it was dark," she said.

Ms Loveday's son Elliott Morris told the inquest he was aware his mother suffered depression and was on medication but that she was in "control of her life".

In a statement read by the coroner's officer, Mr Galway said: "Helen and I loved each other.

"We never had any rows. If we disagreed about something we would talk it through.

"I think it was the alcohol that led to her being killed."

The inquest, listed for five days, continues.