Expectant mother killed in Coventry car crash

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A pregnant woman and her unborn child have died after she was hit by a car in Coventry.

The 33-year-old, who was seven months pregnant, was injured on London Road, near to the junction with Abbey Road.

Emergency crews were called at about 17:30 GMT on Friday, police said.

She was taken to hospital but despite efforts to save her and the baby, both were pronounced dead. The 57-year-old driver of the car was voluntarily interviewed by the police .

The driver, who was in a Nissan Almeira, continues to co-operate with officers, the spokesman said.

PC Damian Gibson, from West Midlands Police, said: "Family liaison officers have been appointed to support the woman's family at this very difficult time.

"London Road is a busy road and we would like to hear from anyone who witnessed the collision last night."

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Tributes to 'lovely' mum-to-be killed in Coventry road horror


London Road, near the junction of Abbey Road

Shocked neighbours have paid tribute to the tragic mum-to-be who was killed when she was hit by a car in Coventry on Friday.

Police yesterday named the heavily pregnant woman as Polish-born Anna Garniec, aged 33.

She was knocked down by a car on London Road, near the junction with Abbey Road, in Whitley, at about 5.35pm on Friday.

She was taken to hospital but despite frantic efforts to save both her and her child, both were pronounced dead.

Mrs Garniec had only married her husband Marcin in April this year, and she was seven months pregnant with the couple’s first child when she died.

Neighbours of the Garniecs in Toll Bar End yesterday told the Telegraph of their shock, describing Anna as a “lovely girl”.

Phil Batchelor, aged 63, said: “She was a lovely girl, she was very friendly.

“I think she spoke three or four languages – she was very intelligent. She was friendly, and they were a very helpful couple.

"They welcomed us into their house, and we had them over to our house, too. Anna worked with my wife at the Land Registry and her husband worked at Jaguar Land Rover.”

Mr Batchelor, who is retired, added: “They went to church a lot; they were very religious people.

“When I found out about what happened I just felt gutted. My wife was particularly upset by it, because she knew Anna better.

“It was a terrible shock to all of us – it makes it even worse when you know she was seven months pregnant.”

Another neighbour said that Mrs Garniec could always be seen with a smile on her face.

Specially trained police family liaison officers are helping to support Anna’s husband, who was said by neighbours to be staying with friends after the tragedy.

Police are still appealing for witnesses to the accident, which happened at rush-hour on the busy commuter route.

The driver of the car, a blue Nissan Almera, a 57-year-old Coventry man, was voluntarily interviewed and continues to co-operate with officers.

The collision happened opposite the entrance to Folly Lane Members’ Club, just past the junction with Abbey Road.

Scores of Coventry people touched by the tragedy flooded social networking sites with messages of sympathy for the family.

Many others called for more traffic-calming measures on the busy road.

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Police still appealing for witnesses

A week on from the horrific crash that claimed the life of a heavily pregnant woman and her unborn child police are still appealing for witnesses to come forward.

Polish-born Anna Garniec, 33, died in a collision in London Road, near Abbey Road in Whitley, last Friday at 5.35pm.

After the collision police launched an investigation into the collision between Mrs Garniec and a blue Nissan Almera.

A spokesman for the force confirmed that no decision had been made yet on whether the 57-year-old driver of the car would face further action over the collision.

He said that police were continuing to appeal for witnesses to the incident to come forward.

Since the collision, which happened opposite the entrance to Folly Lane Social Club, friends and neighbours have paid tribute to Mrs Garniec, who was seven months pregnant.

Neighbour Phil Batchelor, aged 63, said: “She was a lovely girl, she was very friendly.

“I think she spoke three or four languages – she was very intelligent. She was friendly, and they were a very helpful couple.

“When I found out about what happened I just felt gutted. My wife was particularly upset by it, because she knew Anna better.

“It was a terrible shock to all of us – it makes it even worse when you know she was seven months pregnant.”

After the crash paramedics fought to save Mrs Garniec and her child.

She was rushed to University Hospital where desperate efforts to save the pair were made, but both were later pronounced dead.

Police are keen to speak to anyone who witnessed the collision. Witnesses should call the collision investigation unit on 101.

Alternatively call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.