A warden who ran over an 81-year-old woman has been cleared of seriously injuring her after a court ruled that she was to blame for the accident.

Magistrate Neville Camilleri found that Maria Vittoria Sultana had crossed negligently and was not keeping a proper lookout when the accident occurred in Labour Avenue in Naxxar in 2012, just metres away from two pedestrian crossings she had opted not to use.

He was ruling in a criminal case brought against warden Albert Lia, 52, from Birżebbuġa, over the accident, which involved the warden’s official vehicle, at 7am on March 5.

Ms Sultana, who has since passed away, fractured her femur, hip bone and left arm in the incident.

The pedestrian was to blame because she did not keep a proper lookout

Court experts reported that the damage to the car was “minimal” and that the warden was driving at moderate speed. There were no brake marks.

Mr Lia testified that the woman had emerged from behind a parked vehicle just two metres away, giving him no time to avoid her. To make matters worse, it was raining.

Ms Sultana testified that she did not walk to the zebra crossing as it was too far away for her.

Magistrate Camilleri ruled that Ms Sultana was to blame for the accident, since she had failed to keep a proper lookout and tried to cross a busy street without using one of the two crossings.

The magistrate cleared Mr Lia of the charge of driving negligently.

Police Inspector Josric Mifsud prosecuted.