A pensioner died in a Yorkshire hospital 14 months after a horror road smash in Croydon which also killed her husband, an inquest has heard.

Rosemary Carr was crippled and under hospital care after the Purley Way crash in September 2005.

Croydon Coroner's Court was told the 70-year-old's husband William died when the Rover car they were travelling in was hit by a speeding car.

Mrs Carr, of Ripley Road, Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, who was the passenger, was taken to hospital suffering from massive injuries.

She was later transferred to a hospital in Harrogate closer to her home and apart from a short break spent the remainder of her life there.

PC Steve Gilbert, a traffic investigator, told today's inquest that Mr Carr made an incorrect right-hand turn from Edgehill Road into Purley Way. He said a Fiat Punto driven by Dennis Ashworth and a Vauxhall Corsa driven by Daniel Pound were driving on the road at up to twice its 40mph speed limit.

PC Gilbert added: "There could be no doubt that they were driving together. Whether it was racing or competitive driving, there appeared to have been a total disregard for the rules of the road.

"Ashworth, ahead of Pound, saw the Rover crossing his path and braked, reducing his speed to 50mph, and hit the front off-side of the Rover. Both cars spun around and mounted the pavement, hitting roadside furniture before coming to a halt.

"Pound managed to avoid the debris but was unable to stop before the junction. Had Ashworth been driving at 40, it is unlikely the collision would have occurred," he said.

Pound and Ashworth were arrested after the crash and charged. Ashworth pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and was jailed for three years. Pound was found guilty of dangerous driving after admitting the charge and given 12 months.

In December Pound, whose car did not hit the elderly couple's, had his sentence cut in half after an appeal.

Coroner's officer John Russell said discussions had been held with the family and it had been decided that no further proceedings would be taken against Ashworth in relation to Mrs Carr's death.

A report from Harrogate Hospital stated that she died on November 21 from bronchial pneumonia due to respiratory insufficiency and spinal injury following a road accident, and this was accepted by the coroner.

Delivering his narrative verdict, Dr Roy Palmer said Mr Carr had made a right-hand turn from Purley Way and, in doing so, was in a collision with another vehicle.