Pictured: James Pickup, 78, died after tragically falling out of his car while reversing
A pensioner died after running himself over when he fell out his car reversing the door open while drink driving, an inquest heard.
Father-of-six James Pickup had been reversing his Nissan Navara outside his home in Darwen, Lancashire, and had left the door open to look behind.
The 78-year-old then partially fell out the vehicle, suffering severe leg injuries to his right leg as it became trapped after his left foot was caught on the accelerator.
Police estimated Mr Pickup would have been over the drink-drive limit during the incident, the inquest at Preston Coroner’s Court was told.
The incident happened at around 1am on Saturday, December 9, and he was rushed to Royal Preston Hospital where he died from leg injuries the next day.
Lancashire with Blackburn and Darwen area Coroner James Newman said the pensioner was stuck under his car for ‘approximately one hour’.
Mr Newman concluded the cause of death was a road traffic collision which resulted in serious leg injuries.
He said: ‘He had been attempting to reverse the vehicle with the door open when he partially fell from the vehicle with his right leg becoming trapped beneath the still moving vehicle.
‘Despite extensive medical treatment Mr Pickup passed away at the Royal Preston Hospital. I record he died of a road traffic collision.’
A statement from consultant Dr Mark Pitt found Mr Pickup suffered ‘degloving injuries to his right leg and thigh’.
This level would be intoxicating in a social drinker
He ruled the cause of death was ‘severe leg injuries’ and heart problems, an inquest heard.
Pathologist Dr Ken McGratten from the Royal Preston Hospital said Mr Pickup was given extensive medical treatment after arriving at the hospital.
However a statement read at the inquest said his condition deteriorated at around 9.30am on December 10.
A statement from Lancashire Road Police’s PC Corberry read out at the inquest said the 78-year-old’s left foot become caught on the accelerator vehicle.
Police also said they took a sample of blood from Mr Pickup after being called to the incident and found 26 milligrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood.
However this was taken around five hours after the incident and the officer estimated it would have been 122 milligrammes at the time, with 80 milligrammes the legal drink drive limit.
The statement said: ‘This level would be intoxicating in a social drinker.’ Police said Mr Pickup had not been wearing his seatbelt at the time of the incident and there were no defects found with the vehicle.
The inquest heard Mr Pickup was a retired lorry driver and have been the widower of his wife Rose.