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A school teacher tragically killed herself by deliberately driving into the path of an HGV lorry while experiencing symptoms of the menopause, an inquest has heard.
Jacqueline Potter – known as Anne – was experiencing a number of stresses in her life and an inquest heard the menopause contributed to her mental health decline and made her underlying anxiety worse.
She left her home on the morning of December 5, 2020, and drove along the A303 in Somerset before purposefully swerving into the path of the HGV.
Her heartbroken family described Ms Potter, 54, – who taught languages at Bishop Fox’s school in Taunton for a decade – as ‘fiercely loyal and sweet’.
They said at the time of her death: ‘She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister and daughter and was loved and cherished by us all.
‘A kind, sweet and fiercely loyal person, we can’t put into words how much we will miss her. She always gave the best advice and had a brilliant sense of humour.’
The family added she was a ‘well respected teacher’ with ‘an amazing talent for languages’.
‘The loss to our family and friends is immeasurable and she will always be with us in our hearts.’
Jacqueline Potter, 54 – known as Anne – had been treated for declining mental health before she killed herself in December 2020
Ms Potter drove along the A303 (pictured) at Podimore, Somerset, and deliberately drove into the path of the HGV tank lorry on the opposite carriageway
The inquest was told that after suffering from declining mental health, in late September 2020 Ms Potter took an overdose of painkillers and was given treatment at Yeovil hospital in Somerset.
On discharge she was released with daily mental health support.
But the grandmother was later found wandering in traffic and absconding from her home, prompting her to be detained under the Mental Health Act for several weeks.
On December 3 she had a day out with her family in Bristol and was allowed to stay overnight at home on the 4th – but the inquest heard her family did not receive appropriate information to help them keep her safe during the overnight stay.
On the morning of December 5 Anne used keys to leave the house and drove off in a car.
She drove along the A303 at Podimore, Somerset, and deliberately drove into the path of the HGV tank lorry on the opposite carriageway.
Married Anne, of Kingsbury Episcopi, Somerset, died from multiple wounds.
Breaking the sad news to pupils and parents at Bishop Fox School, headteacher Kerry Tonkin wrote in a letter: ‘It is with tremendous sadness and regret that I have to inform you of the death of Mrs Potter, a teacher of French and Spanish, and a Year 8 tutor at Bishop Fox’s School.
The inquest was told that in late September 2020 Ms Potter took an overdose of painkillers and was given treatment at Yeovil hospital in Somerset (pictured)
‘Unfortunately, we have been informed that Mrs Potter was involved in a fatal road traffic accident.
‘Mrs Potter was a valued and very experienced member of our school community and this is a real shock to us all.
‘She has attended numerous school trips, most recently to France in the summer term, and supported her tutor group in Okehampton last year.
‘We all will sorely miss her passion for teaching languages, being a great tutor and her sense of humour.’
She added: ‘Our thoughts are with Mrs Potter’s family and friends at this sad time. We ask all in our community to respect the family’s privacy and sensitivities, particularly in relation with posts on social media.’
The senior Somerset coroner Samantha Marsh recorded a suicide conclusion at the inquest held at Wells.
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