John Hargreaves was the man who accidentally fatally struck Lisa Duckworth with his car one evening in February 1993. After leaving the Rovers having bought a bottle of wine to celebrate getting a buyer for 6 Coronation Street, Lisa was just about to cross the street when she dropped her purse. As she bent down picking up the contents, John drove into the street and - not seeing the young woman in the darkness - ultimately struck her. A stunned John attempted to explain the accident as several of the street's residents attempted to help Lisa. Lisa sadly died in hospital a few days later, leaving behind her young son Tommy and boyfriend Des Barnes.
In March 1993, Tommy's paternal grandparents Jack and Vera Duckworth - now looking after Tommy - began having financial problems. Discovering that John's insurance may not pay out as witnesses had said that he was not at fault, the pair attempted to convince Des to change his statement. At the end of the month, John visited Des to express remorse for the accident, learning of Tommy and revealing that he had four children under eight, including a daughter about the same age. Giving Des his phone number, he quickly left. In April, Jack and Vera attended John's court hearing, in which the dangerous driving charges against him were dropped.