Social worker, 42, who ran over and killed 71-year-old neighbour while driving home tells court she fell under her car while crossing the road

A social worker who ran over and killed her elderly neighbour when she was driving home claims that the pensioner fell under her car while crossing the road.

Elizabeth Avorga, 42, had dropped her four children off at school and nursery and was driving into the service road near her Croydon home when Janet Emmett, 71, tried to cross in front of her.

Mrs Emmett was on crutches and was crossing towards the driver's right side, a court heard.

Neighbours heard screams and saw the car stopped on a grass verge with Mrs Emmett's legs and crutches protruding from underneath it following the crash on June 14, 2022.

The Old Bailey previously heard that one neighbour told police Avorga was hysterical and screaming: 'I tried to stop, but she slid and fell. I killed Janet. Oh my God, I've killed my friend!'

Paramedics found Mrs Emmett trapped under the left front wheel of the car, and the cause of death was later found to be crush injuries to the head and torso.

The fire service had to lift the Chevrolet from the ground so she could be taken to hospital.

'I had just turned in. I immediately realised she was in the road. I steered away to my left towards the grass verge to give her room to safely cross,' Avorga told the court today.

'I suddenly saw her turn slightly to her left.

'I was not sure why she turned. But the next thing I saw was she appeared to have lost her footing and was falling over backwards in the direction of the car.

'I stepped on my brakes and stopped the car.'

Avorga got out of the car but Mrs Emmett was trapped underneath.

Neighbours heard Avorga's screams and found her sobbing: 'I tried to stop but she slid down and fell.'

'I was quite distraught. I was upset because of the incident that had just happened,' Avorga told the jury.

Fighfighters had to lift her Chevrolet SUV off Mrs Emmett but she had been crushed under the wheels and could not be saved.

Avorga was in such a state that she had to receive medical treatment as she wept: 'Oh my God, I've killed my friend.'

The social worker told the court she had lived in Kingsdown Avenue, Croydon, where the incident happened for eight years - first in a flat and then in a semi-detached house.

She worked for her local council and her husband works in administration for a university.

Avorga said she knew Mrs Emmett well and had always tried to help her.

'I particularly take interest in supporting not just her but an elderly gentleman who lives in the block of flats,' said Avorga.

'I would care about their wellbeing and if there was anything I could do I would do it.

'I considered Mrs Emmett as a friend. She did disclose to me some of her health conditions. She mentioned she was going to have a hip replacement.'

The court heard Mrs Emmett was 'not a small woman' and weighed more than 15 stone.

On the day of the incident Avorga's father was visiting from his home in Ghana.

He was suffering from a repetitive cough and called 111 to get some treatment on the NHS.

But Avorga denied she was hurrying back to see him and was not paying attention as she turned into the service road near her home.

'I was in no rush at all,' she insisted.

Prosecutor Charlotte Hole earlier told jurors: 'On her own account she knew Mrs Emmett had mobility problems but she passed so close when Mrs Emmett was crossing that when Mrs Emmett fell there was only one outcome and it was a fatal one.

'Had she stopped or at least passed so widely there was no possibility to come into contact the collision would have been avoided.'

A GoFundMe page has been launched by Janet's son Declan who said his family's life was 'changed forever' following his mother's death.

Mr Emmett said he was diagnosed with PTSD in August 2023 and desperately needed support but had to wait 16 to 18 weeks to see a professional.

He now wishes to start a foundation in his mother's name to help families in a similar position to his own.

The GoFundMe reads: 'The NHS have been amazing with me and I am now getting the help and doing the best I can in this terrible situation. Now my idea is to start a foundation in my mums name to help families in a similar position to mine.

'I would like to find them the help that is needed privately, but this costs money. This is where you beautiful people come in, I am passionate about making a change and saving as many families from the depression and anxiety that comes from losing a loved one in tragic events.'

Avorga denies causing death by careless driving on 14 June 2022.

The trial continues.