A 21-YEAR-OLD woman has been convicted of causing the death of a pensioner by dangerous driving after she returned at speed from a drug deal and struck her with a car.

Psychiatrists said Hivda Altuntop, 21, believed “everything was a simulation” when she fatally struck Penelope Coggan, 73, in Great Oakley.

The pensioner was thrown 20 yards after a Vauxhall Astra being driven by Altuntop, who had stolen the vehicle from her mother, hit her in Harwich Road on April 24, 2021.

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Gazette: Much loved - Penelope CogganMuch loved - Penelope Coggan (Image: Essex Police)

Altuntop, of High Street, Dovercourt, sped off before crashing into a ditch about half a mile from the scene, Chelmsford Crown Court heard.

A jury returned a majority verdict finding the defendant guilty of two counts of aggravated vehicle taking, two counts of dangerous driving, two counts of possession of a knife, possession of cannabis, assaulting an emergency worker and causing death by dangerous driving.

She will be sentenced on December 16.

Mrs Coggan had been mowing the lawn at the Harewood Surgery before crossing the road just minutes before her death to talk with her son.

Gazette: Tributes - flowers at the sceneTributes - flowers at the scene (Image: Newsquest)

One eyewitness said she had been laughing and in good spirits.

As she crossed the road to return to the surgery, she was struck by the Vauxhall being driven by Altuntop.

The pensioner tragically died at the scene as a result of the catastrophic injuries she sustained, despite the desperate efforts of her son, Michael, who tried to revive her.

Forensic Collision Investigator Jonathan Ward told Chelmsford Crown Court there was enough time for Altuntop to “stop, swerve or slow” to avoid the fatal collision.

Gazette: Trial - Chelmsford Crown CourtTrial - Chelmsford Crown Court

CCTV footage suggested she sped at up to 38mph within the 30mph limit and did not brake.

Mr Ward added had the Astra been travelling at 30mph at the point the 73-year-old entered the road, she would have got across safely.

The court heard Altuntop was driving home from Colchester having met a cannabis dealer and was using country roads to avoid being caught.

Psychiatrists called by the defence told the court Altuntop suffers from schizophrenia and at the time of the crash she believed “everything was a simulation”.

Defence experts argued Altuntop did not understand the significance of what she had done due to her mental illness.