AN unborn baby suffered fatal injuries when her mother was involved in a head-on road crash, an inquest was told.

Baby Caroline Folkes was delivered by Caesarean section after the accident, but died six hours later from a massive haemorrhage.

Caroline's inquest at Reading heard that the baby girl had suffered the injuries as a direct result of the road accident.

Mother Claire Folkes, of Hawksworth Close, Grove, told the hearing how she left work in Newbury on October 6 last year and was travelling behind a lorry on the B4494 towards Wantage.

Lorry driver Graham Reed said he noticed Mrs Folkes's Rover 216 car pull out to overtake his vehicle which was travelling at 50mph. He then saw a Ford Orion pull out of a junction into the road - and plough straight into the overtaking car carrying Mrs Folkes.

He said: " noticed Mrs Folkes's car pull out and overtake. As I looked back forward I could see the Ford Orion pulling out of a junction. "It was inevitable what would happen. I thought 'My God' and had a feeling of dread.I looked in the rear-view mirror and heard the crash."

Mrs Folkes, who attended the hearing on crutches, said she had no time to brake. and avoid the crash. She was taken to the Royal Berkshire Hospital at Reading.

Orion driver Geraldine Jones said she had no time to take avoiding action.

Pc David Valsler, of the Thames Valley Police accident investigation unit, said the road was a blackspot that had seen several crashes.

He said anti-overtaking measures were being placed along the stretch of road to avoid a repeat of the tragedy. Reading coroner Dr Joe Pim recorded a verdict of accidental death.

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