RESIDENTS of Princetown are shocked and saddened by the death of a local woman who collided with a cyclist in the village last Friday just yards from her home. Pedestrian Jeanette Benton, 44, was with her eight-year-old grand-daughter when the accident occurred at Hessary Terrace just before 9am. A local doctor rushed to her aid and called for the air ambulance to take her to Derriford Hospital. Initially, it was thought she had sustained minor injuries but her condition deteriorated and she died the next day. Ms Benton had lived in Princetown for most of her life and postmaster Paul Turnbull said she would be greatly missed: 'She was a kind, caring mother and grandmother and a very helpful lady who would not hesitate to help if you needed something done. 'She used to come into the post office quite a bit and was well-known and respected — her death is a big shock to everyone.' Ms Benton had recently started working in a local care home but before that was one of the bar staff at the Plume of Feathers Inn in Princetown. One of her colleagues at the pub, Glen Phillips, said it was very hard to come to terms with Ms Benton's death or to make sense of the accident. 'It just seems impossible that this could happen,' he said. 'I worked with Jeanette for about a year and she was a beautiful person. 'She was very popular with the customers, and a part of the village. My thoughts and feelings go out to her family particularly her grand-daughter who she was very close to.' The cyclist, a local man, was taken to Derriford Hospital with minor injuries but later released. Police have launched a full investigation into the incident and are asking any witnesses to contact MPC Phil Snowball at Plympton Traffic Unit on 08452 777444, quoting police reference number 218 08/12/06.
