Yi Sun had looked at the handset just seconds before she was struck by a passing car, an inquest at Norfolk Coroner's Court heard.

The tragedy unfolded on Dereham Road, in Costessey, in front of several witnesses shortly before 3.30pm on July 18 last year.

The 44-year-old was half way across the road, in a central refuge area at a pedestrian crossing, when she started to cross the next carriageway, apparently without realising the lights had turned green for traffic.

A section of Dereham Road in Costessey where Yi Sun died (Image: Google Street View)

The court heard from officer Michael Stolworthy, who carried out a forensic collision investigation for Norfolk Police following Mrs Sun's death.

He described how she was crossing Dereham Road at the traffic light-controlled junction with Britannia Way.

She had crossed the two lanes leading out of Norwich and reached the central refuge.

As she stepped out of the refuge, to cross the three lanes heading into the city, she was hit by a VW Passat travelling at around 37mph.

A section of Dereham Road in Costessey where Yi Sun died (Image: Google Street View)

The car’s driver told police he only saw Mrs Sun at the very last moment.

The........

© Norwich Evening News