Crash death student unlawfully killed

A teenage girl who died after being hit by a car driven by a 87-year-old man who had been warned not to drive was unlawfully killed, an inquest has found.

The inquest heard student Cassie McCord, 16, was hit by a car on 7 February 2011 when the vehicle mounted a pavement at speed in Colchester.

Driver Colin Horsfall had been warned days earlier by police not to drive.

Mr Horsfall died in a care home in May last year.

A witness said he thought Mr Horsfall was being pursued, because he was going so fast.

Mr Horsfall later told police that he had put his foot on the accelerator instead of the brake by mistake, the inquest heard.

Ms McCord was one of three girls injured in the crash and died in hospital of her injuries several days later.

Her family are now campaigning for the police to have stronger powers to seize the licences of drivers they believe are "unfit".

Mr Horsfall had been warned not to drive after he was involved in another incident on the road.

The victim's mother Jackie McCord is calling for police to be able to hand out instant bans.

More than 3,000 people have signed a petition for "Cassie's Law" and Mrs McCord is aiming to reach the 100,000 mark to force a debate in the House of Commons.