In the early hours of October 3, as Vivian Man, 32, drove out of Crichton Road into Stanley Park Road, Carshalton, a speeding Fiat Punto hit into the side of her Mercedes.

Mrs Man, who lived with her husband Chung Kong Man and daughter Phoebe in Shirley, Croydon, was rushed to St Helier Hospital with multiple injuries.

Though she made good progress for a few days, her condition deteriorated rapidly and she was pronounced dead on October 12.

She had left Heens, a Chinese restaurant in Mulgrave Road, at about 11.45pm on October 2.

Giving evidence at Croydon Coroners' Court on Tuesday, April 17, Mr Man said: "That was the last I saw of her. She was a safe driver, not too fast, but confident."

PC Steve Gurnett, who investigated the case, said the Punto's driver, Adel Kekhia, had been travelling at between 55 and 67 miles per hour in a 30mph zone.

But investigations also showed Mrs Man had missed the give way sign at the junction of Crichton Road and Stanley Park Road, leaving Mr Kekhia no time to avoid her.

PC Gurnett added a tree hanging over the sign may have obscured it for Mrs Man.

Both Mr Kekhia, who lives in Stanley Park Road, and his passenger Alison Mays, were slightly injured in the crash. Although both were summoned, neither appeared in court. Assistant deputy coroner John Sampson delivered a verdict of accidental death.

Mr Kekhia appears at Sutton Magistrates Court on Wednesday, April 26 charged with careless driving.