A NURSE died after suffering severe head injuries when her car crashed into a tree, an inquest heard. 

Ivory Lapitan, 24, swerved to avoid a deer while travelling to work on the A33, on April 25.

The inquest, held at Winchester Coroner’s Court on Tuesday, was told that she died almost immediately following the impact with the tree.

Assistant deputy Coroner Sarah Whitby heard how Miss Lapitan, of Tintern Close, was travelling on the southbound dual carriageway of the A33 at around 6.30am to get to the Royal Hampshire County Hospital where she was a qualified nurse.

Patricia Fagan was driving along the same part of the road when the incident happened.

She said: “I could see headlights in my rear view mirror and the car began to overtake me.

“As the car overtook me I could see a deer in the road and as I was braking I heard a massive bang, she spun up the road and hit a tree which was another massive bang.

“I ran over to see if the driver was ok and there was another bang where the tree fell on the car. I was banging on the window shouting hello but I couldn’t get a response.”

Mrs Fagan told the inquest that Miss Lapitan was slumped learning towards the passenger side, before another passer-by arrived and opened the door and waited for the paramedics to arrive. 

PC Steve Wootton, of the police’s forensic collision unit, told the inquest that Miss Lapitan had made clear efforts to avoid the deer causing her to swerve.

He said: “There were tyre marks on the road to indicate heavy braking had taken place.

“There was a long curve to the tyre marks before they left the road and the car had impacted with the tree.”

When asked why Miss Lapitan’s airbags had not deployed, PC Wootton said: ”The car only had front airbags and the collision was not head on so the airbags would not have been set off.”

Passing a verdict of accidental death, Mrs Whitby said: “There was never an issue with the driving.

“All things indicate that this was a tragic incident.”

As previously reported in the Gazette, friends and family took to social media to pay tribute to the former Bishop Challoner, with friends and family raising more than £5,000 for her funeral costs.

Paying tribute on Facebook Jennifer Gill said: “Ivory Lapitan you will be deeply missed. You have brought so much happiness and laughter into my life.

“There was never a dull moment and my many memories with you will never be forgotten. You truly lived life to the fullest and you’re an inspiration to us all.“