Inquest into death of Ibiza holiday girl Francesca Foulkes today
09:20, 06 January 2011
updated: 14:01, 04 December 2019
The crash which killed a 21-year-old Kent woman in Ibiza was
"not simply a road traffic accident", a coroner ruled today.
Fran Foulkes, of Leafy Glade, Wigmore, was on holiday in July
when she was tragically knocked down by a suspected
drink-driver.
Today, at an inquest into her death, Coroner Roger Sykes said he
was unable to record a verdict of unlawful killing.
Instead, he recorded a narrative verdict because court
proceedings are still on-going in Ibiza.
He said: "The driver was intoxicated with alcohol and cocaine,
he was driving in excess of a safe speed and failed to stop at the
scene."
Fran's
friend, Jessica Read, who was with her when she was killed,
described her last moments.
The pair had been making their way back to where they were
staying after leaving a bar at about 2.30am.
They had crossed the road at a zebra crossing but were unable to
reach the pavement on the other side because of several parked cars
in the way.
They were walking beside the parked cars when Fran was hit by an
oncoming vehicle.
Miss Read said: "I was holding her hand. I saw the car coming
towards us.
"It was going faster than the other cars which had passed us and
seemed closer.
"I turned back to look at Fran to check she wasn't in the way
but it just happened a bit too quick.
"When I turned back I couldn't see her, she wasn't in my view.
It wasn't until I went down the road that I found her."
Fran was thrown several foot from when she was hit. A post
mortem examination revealed she died of head injuries.
Members of Fran's devastated family attended the inquest.
Outside, her dad Julian said he "couldn't have wished for a
better daughter".
He added: "We had 21 fantastic years with Fran. As a family we
have different feelings towards the driver.
"For me it is hard to feel vindictive. Whether he gets six
months, or six years, nothing will bring my daughter back."
Fran's death prompted a wave of grief among her friends, with
more than 700 people attending her funeral.
At her family's request, mourners wore brightly coloured clothes
to reflect Fran's bubbly personality.
A Spanish man of 24 has been charged with causing Fran's death
and is on bail pending a court case. The man has been charged with
negligent manslaughter, drink driving, reckless driving and hit and
run.
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