A woman was killed in her own street when the car she was travelling in collided with four other vehicles in Wandsworth on Saturday night.

Patricia Sharpe, 59, from Wandle Way, died when the Toyota being driven by her 80-year-old husband hit a car and caused damage to three others parked in the street as the couple were returning home.

Firefighters attended the scene at just after 10pm and had to use specialist cutting equipment to free the woman.

She was taken to St George's Hospital, but died in the early hours.

Mrs Sharpe's husband was arrested at the scene following a positive breath test for alcohol and was taken to Wandsworth police station for questioning.

Officers say the couple had been involved in an accident a few moments earlier in Garratt Lane, where they hit a car waiting at traffic lights from behind. The car contained two adults and a four month old baby. The baby was unharmed but the other occupants husband and wife suffered minor whiplash injuries.

After continuing into Wandle Way, the Toyota which officers say may have been travelling at speed then hit the parked car, which caused the fatal accident.

Fire crews from Wandsworth, as well as Battersea's Specialist Rescue Unit, were on the scene within four minutes and took around 15 minutes to free the woman.

A postmortem was due to take place on Wednesday as the News went to press and an inquest will subsequently be opened and adjourned.

Police are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the incident to contact the Collision Investigation Unit on 020 8247 6935.

The man has been released on police bail while inquiries are continuing and has been told to return to Wandsworth police station on June 16.

May 30, 2003 11:00