AN 86-year-old woman has pleaded not guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving to a pedestrian who was hit by her Suzuki Jeep.

Evelyn Cass is alleged to have hit Christopher Park on the A382 at Sandypark, Chagford, on April 12 last year as a result of driving with poor eyesight.

Her trial at Exeter Crown Court was supposed to have taken place earlier this year but was delayed because of the Covid crisis and a new date has been set for August 3, 2021, which is more than two years after the accident.

Cass, of Broadpark, Okehampton, denied causing serious injury by dangerous driving to pedestrian Christopher Park.

Mr Park suffered a fractured skull and bleeding on the brain in the accident. He needed treatment in a neuro rehabilitation centre to learn to walk and talk again.

Mr Ian Graham, defending, said Ms Cass does not accept that her eyesight was the cause of the accident.

He said: ‘The pedestrian was not there to be seen in the road and her eyesight was suitable for driving at the material time.’

Judge Timothy Rose apologised for the long delay before the trial date and set a timetable for the exchange of prosecution and defence cases, which may include specialist reports on the defendant’s eyesight.