A PENSIONER died after a woman driving a stolen car returned at speed from a drug deal and collided with her, a court heard.

Penelope Coggan, who was in her 70s, was thrown 20 yards into the air after a Vauxhall Astra being driven by Hivda Altuntop struck her in Harwich Road, Great Oakley.

Her son, Michael, a doctor who worked in the nearby Harewood Surgery, rushed outside to perform CPR on his mother but she tragically died at the scene on April 24, 2021.

Altuntop, of High Street, Dovercourt, sped off before crashing into a ditch about half a mile from the scene, Chelmsford Crown Court heard.

The 21-year-old was later arrested in connection with the fatal incident.

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The court heard Altuntop took her mother’s car and a kitchen knife before heading to Colchester to pick up cannabis at about 12.30pm.

Carolyn Gardiner, prosecuting, said she drove “dangerously” to meet a drug dealer in Meander Mews, Colchester, overtaking several vehicles.

Ms Gardiner said Altuntop “smoked some of it [the cannabis] and took eight or nine paracetamols” before getting behind the wheel and heading back home.

Toxicological analysis of a blood sample taken from the defendant confirmed traces of the breakdown products of cannabis.

Mrs Coggan, who had been mowing the lawn at the Harewood Surgery, had crossed the road just minutes before to talk with her son.

One eyewitness said she had been laughing and in good spirits just moments prior to her death.

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The court heard the pensioner had begun crossing the road following the conclusion of the conversation before she was hit by the Vauxhall being driven by Altuntop.

Ms Gardiner continued: “The defendant’s car ploughed into her [at up to 38mph] and tossed her some 20 yards in the air.

“She then sped away now with her bonnet dented and windscreen shattered.

“Mrs Coggan’s son ran out of the surgery and performed CPR but there was nothing that could be done to save her life.

“She died from the catastrophic injuries she sustained at the scene.”

Altuntop denies two counts of aggravated vehicle taking, two counts of dangerous driving, two counts of possession of a knife, possession of cannabis, assaulting an emergency worker and causing death by dangerous driving.

  • The trial continues.