By MONIQUE DEVEREUX
A homemade cable car that sped down a hill before crashing and killing its elderly occupant had provided the woman with "precious independence" for many years.
Gwenda Whyte, 81, died in Nelson Hospital on Tuesday. A motorist found her lying unconscious on the street beside the cable car.
Yesterday, Mrs Whyte's long-time neighbours in Stoke said they could remember the "trolley" being used at least 30 ago.
It was the only one in the street but was needed because the path to the house was steep.
One woman who had delivered meals-on-wheels to Mrs Whyte described the climb up the path as "a mission".
Only two other houses in the street sit as high on the hill but the residents of those have built angled paths with much gentler gradients.
Mrs Whyte had lived alone since her husband died many years ago.
The neighbours said the little cable car was needed for her "precious" independence, enabling her to collect her mail and to get down to the street.
Made of wood with two seats inside, it travelled slowly down the path.
The electric winch system was controlled by a lever inside the trolley.
The neighbours were concerned that the cable car had never had a proper service to ensure it was safe.
One woman said she had often wondered who checked the electrics of the trolley and how often.
"It's out there in all weather. I'm sure the family kept an eye on it but as for a proper professional look at it, well I never saw anything of the like going on."
Sergeant Brian Wood, of Stoke, said mechanical failure was the most likely cause of the accident.
The cable car was taken to the Stoke police station for examination by an engineer.
Economic Development Ministry adviser Michael Mills said the Government had made several recommendations on cable cars this year. But until legislation was passed there was no safety standard for them.
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