A GREAT-GRANDFATHER died after he was struck by a car on his way to deliver a Christmas present, an inquest heard.

Kenneth Ward, 86, a retired Bradford College lecturer, was crossing Barkerend Road, Bradford, when he was involved in a collision with a black Toyota Avensis, after he had just stepped off a bus.

The Toyota Avensis, driven by Mohammed Arif, was about to turn right at the junction of Barkerend Road and Shipley Airedale Road.

Mr Ward, of Park Cliffe Road, Undercliffe, was struck by the bonnet and windscreen of Mr Arif’s car and fell onto the road.

This collision resulted in a number of injuries to one of Mr Ward’s lungs, spinal cord and multiple rib fractures.

He was taken to Leeds General Infirmary where he died on New Year’s Day this year from pneumonia.

The incident took place outside Appleton House Training Centre, at around 2.15pm on December 17 last year.

The inquest in Bradford yesterday heard Mr Ward was on his way to an address on Barkerend Road to deliver a Christmas present to a relative.

Mr Arif and his wife, who was a passenger in the vehicle at the time of the incident, stopped to try to help Mr Ward.

Mr Arif, who was not speeding, was breathalysed at the scene by police officers and the results came back negative.

Witness Ghazanfar Iqbal, who was a passenger in a car in the traffic on Barkerend Road, said he stopped to look after Mr Ward until the emergency services arrived, after hearing a loud bang following the collision.

He said: “I approached the man who came round and opened his eyes. He tried to get up and said ‘what’s happened? I told him to keep still.”

Nabila Hussain, another witness, said: “The driver was upset and shocked and he tried to help the injured man. The Avensis was not travelling in a reckless manner. I would say this was a tragic accident.”

Mr Ward was a former flight lieutenant and navigator in the Royal Air Force and also worked as a senior science technician at Bradford College.

Recording his verdict of death following a road traffic collision, Bradford Coroner Martin Fleming said: “Mr Arif braked and could not take evasive action.

"He did not see Mr Ward until he was in front of him. There is not a question of speed playing a part in this incident. I find it more likely that he died as a direct result of the fatal injuries caused by the RTC.”