Car death victim an 'inspiration'

Drusilla Hamm was born with severe cerebral palsy

The family of a woman with cerebral palsy who was was hit and killed by a car on the Isle of Man have said she was an "inspiration" to other people.

Drusilla Hamm, 38, an accountant, was struck on the Douglas to Castletown road on Wednesday morning.

Ms Hamm, who only learnt to walk when she was eight years old, was waiting for a lift from a colleague.

Her parents said she led "life to the full" and raised money for other people who could not walk.

Her family said in a statement: "At birth we were told she was unlikely to survive and could never achieve anything - Dru proved everyone wrong."

Despite being told by doctors that she would never walk, she learnt to do so by time she was eight.

During a parish walk in 2006 she achieved her goal of covering her longest distance on foot, the family said.

Insp Kevin Willson said: "We are still investigating how Dru came to be struck by a vehicle on Wednesday morning.

"I know that Dru was going to be picked up by a work colleague in the area of the Hop Garden car park entrance to go to the airport."

Forensic officers investigated at the scene, and the road, known locally as Mount Murray dip, was closed.

Officers want to speak to anyone who witnessed the accident.