An 88-year-old woman was killed in a car crash after her brother-in-law had a suspected heart attack while driving, causing him to crash into a row of parked cars in High Wycombe, an inquest heard today.

Malcolm Hudson, 70, was driving Ethel Johnson to her home on Hatters Lane when he suffered a “medical episode” and lost consciousness at the wheel on September 1 just yards from his sister-in-law's house.

Sadly Mrs Johnson died five days later at John Radcliffe Hospital from multiple injuries, it was confirmed at Beaconsfield Coroner's Court on December 7.

The inquest heard how eyewitness, Ghazala Tetlay, was forced to drive into a layby when she saw Mr Hudson's Hyundai hurtling towards her at around 30 miles per hour, narrowly missing the crash and leaving her in "shock".

Ms Tetlay revealed she clearly saw Mr Hudson’s eyes were open, however he "was not looking right" and his face appeared to be pale.

Moments later the distressed driver heard a “huge bang” and saw a white vehicle “fly into the air” after the Hyundai careered off the road and collided with multiple vehicles, the coroner heard.

Mrs Johnson was then seen desperately trying to get out of the car as onlookers rushed to her aid, however Mr Hudson “appeared to be unconscious”.

Although the 88-year-old was visibly shaken she assured onlookers she was okay, and responded to paramedic’s questions.

Both Mrs Johnson and Mr Hudson were rushed to Stoke Mandeville hospital.

Coroner for Beaconsfield, Crispin Butler, heard that Mr Hudson “felt well” when he left his home in Hazlemere on September 1 with Mrs Johnson, and his GP Dr Martin Davis confirmed there was no ongoing medical condition that should have stopped him from driving.

Initial tests suggested that Mr Hudson had suffered a stroke, however additional scans eliminated this diagnosis and led doctors to believe he had heart attack.

Mr Hudson was advised by doctors not to drive for six months.

Coroner Crispin Butler ruled the cause of death was the result of a road traffic collision which caused worsening acute on chronic renal failure, multiple fractures, cardio respiratory onset and multiple organ failure.

He said: “Mrs Johnson was a passenger in a Hyundai motor car which collided at high speed with multiple vehicles on Hatters Lane at approximately 16.24 hours, and the driver appears to have had a heart attack while driving.

“Mrs Johnson was taken to Stoke Mandeville hospital and later transferred to John Radcliffe hospital in Oxford where she deteriorated over the following days and died on September 5, 2016."