David Alderson

A CORONER pleaded for the driver who killed a WGC man in a hit-and-run to come forward at an inquest today (Wednesday).

Recording a verdict of death by injuries sustained during a road traffic incident, coroner Edward Thomas told The Old Courthouse the family of the deceased David Alderson “deserved closure” and asked for any witnesses with information about the incident to also come forward.

The inquest was told by constable Edward Peachmint, of Herts Police, how father-of-five David took a glancing blow from a larger-sized vehicle, potentially a van or a 4x4, on the B1000, Welwyn Road.

He said the Broadwater Crescent resident was potentially crossing the road at the time of the incident on July 26 last year.

On the same night, at around 8.45pm, Michelle Merison was driving from Hertford to WGC on the road. She told the St Albans Road-based court how she saw a woman, in her 50’s, in a floral dress, with two younger men, by the bushes where David was found the next morning by a cyclist.

Coroner Thomas concluded there was no “clear evidence” to say exactly when the Jehovah Witness’ death was, and said although the incident may well have happened on the 26th he could only set the death date as the 27th as that was when David’s body was found.

More from the inquest will be in next week’s Welwyn Hatfield Times.

* Call the police non-emergency-number 101 with any information.