A former page three model was killed when her puppy leapt from a car she was travelling in and she ran into the road to save it, an inquest heard. Linda Mann, whose dogs were 'her life', was hit by an oncoming SUV after running out onto a dual carriageway in a 'desperate' bid to rescue her beloved pet.
The 55 year old had been in a car driven by her son when they pulled into a lay-by at 10pm, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier puppy jumped from her lap and she followed it into the road. The inquest heard that on the unlit road, the driver of the oncoming Mazda CX3 would have needed at least three or four seconds to take 'evasive action' - but had only one.
The SUV struck both her and the dog and they both died at the scene on the A303 West near Sutton Scotney, Winchester, Hants. Winchester Coroner's Courts heard that Ms Mann's son, Antonio Barber, had pulled over in the lay-by as he thought his mother, who had been drinking that night, was going to be sick.
