FIVE people killed following a two-car collision in Bromborough were victims of a tragic accident, Wirral’s coroner has ruled.

Margaret Ann Hargreaves, 71, from Eastham, died at the scene from multiple injuries after her Vauxhall Corsa collided with a Renault Megane driven by retired church minister Graham Mercer on the morning of March 8 this year on Spital Road, close to Spital Dam.

Her two passengers, including her sister Linda Wood, 59, also from Eastham, and Mrs Wood's granddaughter, Olivia Wood, six, from Wrexham, were also pronounced dead at the scene.

A third passenger, Mrs Hargreaves’ friend Joan Roden-Jones, 64, from Wrexham, was taken to Arrowe Park Hospital but later died.

Mr Mercer, 73, from Bebington, died at the scene. It is thought he may have lost control of his car.

Coroner’s officer Donald Johnston told an inquest at Wallasey Town Hall that at around 11.45am that day, the blue Renault Megane was travelling along Spital Road from the direction of the Three Stags pub.

Witnesses recalled the vehicle was being driven at excessive speed minutes before the collision.

It followed a bend down the hill and hit a stone wall before veering onto the other side of the road and hitting the silver Vauxhall Corsa which was travelling in the opposite direction.

Two loud bangs were heard as the vehicles collided.

Nearby residents ran from their homes to check on the injured.

Fellow drivers also stopped their cars and tried to help, by diverting traffic and offering assistance.

A police investigation showed the vehicles had no defects which could have contributed to the collision.

Post-mortem reports did not reveal any pathological problem to explain how Mr Mercer could have lost control of his car, but it came to light that he had previously suffered a mini stroke.

Recording verdicts that their deaths occurred as the result of a tragic accident, coroner Christopher Johnson said: "It’s perfectly clear that there was a dreadful impact between Mr Mercer’s car and with Mrs Hargreave's vehicle.

"It’s inconceivable to me that Mr Mercer had driven the car in the way he did unless he had some kind of medical event, although pathologically it has not been possible to show that.

"All the events on that Sunday morning arose as the result of a tragic accident."