THE elderly driver involved in a crash which claimed the life of teenager Cassie McCord was told he would lose his licence three days earlier, the Gazette can reveal.

Officers applied to ban Colin Horsfall, 87, from the road days before his car mounted the path in Head Street, Colchester.

His Vauxhall Astra pinned Cassie, 16, to a wall last Monday causing her fatal head injuries.

Police had told Mr Horsfall, from Rowhedge, they were revoking his licence after he crashed at the Tesco petrol station in High Woods on Friday, February 4, at 11am. He had driven his red Astra onto the forecourt the wrong way and mounted the pavement.

Mr Horsfall was still allowed to get behind the wheel last Monday because he had not received the revocation notice from the DVLA.

Police have launched an internal investigation.

His brother Terry Horsfall, 73, from Tiptree, said: “He said he would be receiving a letter from the DVLA to take his licence away but until that happened, he was OK to carry on.

“I was told they are not able to. If that is the case, the law is absolutely wrong.

“If that had happened, it would have prevented this tragedy.”

Mr Horsfall was taken to Colchester General Hospital after the accident in Head Street.

It is understood he became ill at the wheel and remains in hospital in a stable but improving condition.

Brother Terry said: “It is devastating, especially for the family of this girl.

“He’s going to be so upset when he finds out. We have been told not to tell him yet.”

He said Colin had stopped driving after a previous bout of ill health but was able to get back on the road when he recovered.

Terry added: “He has always said he was fit to drive and has never to my knowledge had an accident before.”

A police statement said the case had been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission because of the contact between the driver and police.

It said: “The IPCC has stated the issue should be investigated locally.

“The investigation will establish exactly what action was taken by police officers following the first incident.

“Police would like to thank witnesses who have assisted with both incidents.”

Colchester Sixth Form College student Cassie, of Drury Road, Colchester, was taken to Queen’s Hospital, in Romford, after the accident but her life-support machine was switched off on Wednesday.