A 96-year-old man died in hospital five weeks after a car crash that police believe may have been caused by ‘pedal confusion’, an inquest has heard. 

David Everington, who lived in the south Norfolk village of Kenninghall, passed away on July 20 last year at West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds.  

The inquest into his death took place at Norfolk Coroner's Court on Wednesday, June 26.  

It heard that Mr Everington, a retired engineer, had been driving his BMW on June 13 last year on Garboldisham Road through Kenninghall when he crashed into the back of a parked and unattended Mercedes van. 

A statement from his son, Peter Everington, who was in the passenger seat at the time of the crash, was read at the inquest.  

He explained that he had expected his father, who he described as a good driver, to brake to allow an oncoming car to pass, but instead Mr Everington accelerated into the van.  

The inquest heard the deceased later said his leg had got stuck because his knee had locked.  

A witness to the crash reported seeing the BMW "veer" into the back of the van for no apparent reason.  

A police officer who inspected the scene found no defects on the road or in the car that could have caused the crash.  

It was suggested the collision might have been caused by "unintended acceleration", also known as "pedal confusion", when a driver mistakes the accelerator for the brake. 

Following the incident, Mr Everington was taken to West Suffolk Hospital, where a scan revealed multiple injuries and also showed he had cancer.  

He was later discharged to Newmarket Community Hospital but had to return to West Suffolk Hospital on July 12, where he died eight days later. 

Assistant Coroner for Norfolk, Christopher Leach, concluded that Mr Everington died of natural causes.  

The medical cause of death was an intestinal obstruction caused by colon cancer, with contributing factors being his old age and the multiple injuries sustained in the crash.