Woman crushed de-icing her car

Andrea Southern was crushed under her Fiat Panda parked outside the detached home she shared with her husband John and two daughters.

The bizarre accident happened in Whickham Close, Widnes, Cheshire, at around 7am on Wednesday. It is believed she was stuck for 30 minutes before being spotted by a neighbour who called an ambulance.

Mrs Southern, who was believed to be in her 30s, was taken to Whiston Hospital but died after 4.30pm.

Mr Southern was too upset to talk and was being comforted by family and friends.

Mrs Southern's black Fiat Panda had been parked on the sloping driveway in front of the house but had since been removed for examination.

Joiner Ryan Gregson, 21, who lives across the road, witnessed paramedics battling to save Mrs Southern.

He said: "It's an utter tragedy. She was a lovely woman, quite quiet and they had two young daughters.

"I woke up early yesterday to blue flashing lights in my room shortly before 7am.

"At first I didn't see much because the firemen were jacking up the car so they could get her out.

"They were working quickly and got her out fast.

He added: "We've heard she was de-icing her car and somehow something's happened and it's rolled on to her, somehow crushing her.

"One of the wheels had apparently gone across her chest."

Police said they were investigating how the woman came to be caught under her car.

A Cheshire Police spokesman said: "Inquiries suggest she was defrosting her car when it is thought to have started and rolled backwards, dragging her under the front wheels."