THE widower of a Dales grandmother killed in an head-on crash with a lorry says his life ‘has been left hollow’ following her death.

Rosemary Sharples, 68, of Sedbusk, near Hawes, died in the collision on the A66 when her Audi A3 veered into oncoming traffic while on her way to visit her daughter and grandchildren.

An inquest at Kendal heard that the cause of the crash was most likely fatigue or distraction.

“As a result of Rosemary’s death my life has been left hollow. I don’t have much interest in anything at all,” said her husband Allen Sharples.

“Even with my family around, the house still feels empty without her. I cannot believe she is gone.

“I am just glad everybody else is okay. I am sorry for what has happened and I hope it doesn’t affect the other people involved too much.”

Mrs Sharples had spent the morning of June 25 at the christening of her granddaughter in Hawes, and planned to go and visit her daughter at Appleby in the afternoon.

Mr Sharples said she had not been tired when he last saw her and that she was feeling well. He added his wife ‘just seemed normal’ when she left the house.

A toxicologist report found that she had no drink or drugs that would inhibit her driving ability in her system. She was said to be a safe and experienced driver, who had done this particular journey weekly for a number of years. According to police, the weather on the day was fine.

The inquest heard that at around 4pm on the A66 at Warcop, Mrs Sharples’ car is reported to have veered to the left, and then veered to the right, into the path of the oncoming lorry. Her car hit the lorry, and then span into the path of another vehicle.

Alexander Imrie, the driver of the HGV, said in a statement read at the inquest at Kendal County Hall: “I saw a dark car coming towards me, and it moved slowly towards the centre of the road. I didn’t think much of it because I see that a lot and drivers do that and they correct themselves.

“Then the car came into my lane. I put my brakes on, but an accident was unavoidable. I was trying to stop from about 45mph and the car looked like it was driving at close to the speed limit.”

Kathryn Jones, of Carlisle, was driving behind Mrs Sharples. She told the inquest that she saw the Audi collide with the lorry’s wheel arch, and that lots of debris flew into the air before the car hit her vehicle.

PC Michael Woodward, who was off duty at the time, was putting his car roof up in a lay-by when the lorry, swerving following the crash, narrowly missed him as it pulled in and struck a tree.

“It was horrific. I have never seen so many bits of debris. They were everywhere,” he said. “It is a credit to the driver that he swerved and hit a tree instead of us.”

Mrs Sharples was pronounced dead at the scene. Mr Imrie, from Scotland, was uninjured and Ms Jones and her passenger suffered bruising and fractures from the impact. Assistant district coroner Robert Chapman concluded that Mrs Sharples died of multiple injuries caused by the road traffic accident.