Inquest of Natalie Young after Taunton Morrisons incident

Despite a lengthy police investigation, no legal action can be taken against the scooter rider as legally no crime was committed.

The senior coroner for Somerset now plans to write a 'prevention of future deaths regarding mobility scooters' report to the Department of Transport following an inquest into the death of Natalie Ann Young.

Mrs Young, 92, of Pegasus Court, Taunton, died in Musgrove Park Hospital on April 13 last year following the incident in Morrisons on March 9.

Her son, Rod Young, told the inquest his mother was "mowed down by the mobility scooter while paying at the till".

He added that his mother had been "very fit and healthy prior to the accident", walking two miles a day and living independently, with a desire to reach 100.

Mrs Young was treated in Musgrove for a number of weeks for her injuries, which included a broken upper arm.

She was allowed home, but suffered debilitating back pain and a loss of freedom, Mr Young told the inquest.

Mrs Young was then returned to Musgrove, where she later died.

He added: "She died as a result of this accident.

"She died because of a careless individual in a mobility scooter mowing her down. She inadvertently accelerated into mum."

He criticised Morrisons for failing to contact Mrs Young's family following the accident and ignoring phone call and email requests for information.

He described the duty manager's reaction to the incident as "obstructive and unhelpful" and "laissez faire", with a "lack of professionalism" as if "nobody cares".

"They showed no basic level of compassion or empathy," said Mr Young.

A member of staff at Morrisons witnessed Mrs Young lying on the floor with a deep cut to her lower leg after being hit by the scooter.

He said: "I could see signs of guilt and remorse on her (the mobility scooter rider's) face."

Carl Probert, the company's corporate protection investigations manager, said in a written statement read to the inquest that Morrisons' priority is looking after its customers.

Mr Probert said staff from the store transported Mrs Young to hospital "to get her checked out".

But he added: "It was not a store incident. It was a customer incident.

"We must allow mobility scooters into our store so as not to discriminate.

"The mobility scooter was at a standstill in the queue prior to the incident, so the incident couldn't have been foreseen."

DC Jasmine Johnson investigated the incident after the force was informed of it two days after Mrs Young's death, although Morrisons "as a whole declined to provide information".

"There is no legal obligation on Morrisons to do anything more than they have done," added DC Johnson.

She said police had been unable to identify the woman on the mobility scooter, who had anyway not committed a criminal offence as anyone can ride a scooter without any restrictions, licence or training.

Senior coroner for Somerset Samantha Marsh recorded a conclusion of accidental death, with the medical causes lower respiratory tract infection; immobility; fall with humeral fracture; and frailty.

Mrs Marsh, who said Morrisons had "not covered themselves in glory" in the way they responded to the accident, added: "She (Mrs Young) sustained a humeral fracture during this incident but, on the balance of probabilities, the trauma and insult was too much for her physiological reserve, despite being a very active and spritely 92-year-old lady."