A YOUNG woman was killed when her moped was hit by a car, sending her into the path of a van, an inquest heard.

Georgia Leigh Williams died after the crash on the A4174 near Emersons Green on January 29 last year – not far from her home in The Meadows, Pucklechurch.

On Tuesday an inquest at Avon Coroner’s Court heard that the 21-year-old had been on her moped when the collision took place.

She was taken to Southmead Hospital in Bristol but died the same day.

Joanne Milsom, who was driving the car, told the coroner she was travelling within the 70mph limit in the outside lane and that, in order to reach a slip road, she had to move into the inside lane where Georgia was riding her moped, which was restricted to 30mph.

Miss Milson, who was with her then boyfriend, Damion Stone, said she did not see Georgia at first.

“I then noticed someone on a bike not moving very fast, that’s when I put my brakes on straight away,” she said.

Mr Stone said Georgia collided with the windscreen before going over the top of the car and then being hit by a van.

The van driver, Ben Gunter, said he was chatting to his wife on his hands-free phone when he saw the collision ahead. He tried to brake to avoid Georgia but his van ended up on top of her.

Both Mr Gunter and Mr Stone wanted to lift the van to free Georgia’s body but were told not to when they called the emergency services.

A witness, Terrance Donovan, who was driving in front and saw the crash, said he believed that the car involved was driving too close to the vehicles in front, adding: “In my opinion the scooter was in no way at fault.”

Sergeant David Parry, the collision investigator for Avon and Somerset Police, said that the tyres on Miss Milsom’s car were under inflated, and that the van’s tyre tread was below the legal limit, but that this didn’t affect the collision.

He said: “Drivers rarely encounter slow moving vehicles on this kind of road. It was too late to take effective avoiding action.”

Georgia’s 50cc moped was restricted to 30mph, but was legally allowed to use dual-carriageways. Sgt Parry added: “Georgia Williams was driving in a normal manner. She was seen by other vehicles who all managed to pass her safely.”

“Miss Milsom failed to see the moped. She was possibly distracted or her view was hidden.”

Assistant coroner Dr Terence Moore said: “It’s sad but true to say a motorist has to be actively looking for things. If you don’t expect to see it you don’t. Miss Milsom didn’t see the scooter until the last moment.”

Dr Moore said he was satisfied that Miss Milson did apply her brakes but that she was not left with enough time or distance to avoid Georgia.

He gave a conclusion of death by road traffic accident.