Motorcyclist killed in crash with minibus, inquest told

Nigel Christopher Thompson died of multiple injuries after a collision with a minibus on the A489 between Kerry and Sarn, near Newtown, on August 2.

The 49-year-old from Quarry Bank, Brierly Hill who had been a keen motorcyclist in his youth, gave up biking while his children were young and only bought the Kawasaki Z100 in March.

His wife, Nicola Thompson, told an inquest at Brecon Court via a statement, that she had not been happy about him getting a new bike and even said to him she would become "a biker widow".

But she said it made him happy, she remembered seeing his face when he bought it and his daughters bought him the biking leathers.

Stephen Evans was driving a Dial a Ride minibus and was accompanied by Carol Clayton and Ross Embrey on a trip to a fun day at Churchstoke, when the accident happened.

He said as he approached a right hand bend near Penygelly Mill he saw a motorcyclist travelling towards him on his side of the road.

He said it looked as though the bike was out of control as it was upright and it was weaving from side to side and wobbling around.

Mr Evans said there was another motorcyclist travelling behind on the correct side of the road.

He said he turned the steering wheel and braked hard but he said he knew there was going to be a crash.

"The last time I recall seeing the motorcyclist he was raising his hand," he said.

"I do not know why the hand was raised, I do not know if he was apologising because he knew what was going to happen," said Mr Evans.

After the crash he got out of the minibus, called the emergency services and found a helmet.

Biker Darren Groves had been in a group of motorcyclists with Mr Thompson and was travelling behind him at the time of the crash.

He said the group would often go for a ride on a Sunday if the weather was good and they had travelled from the West Midlands to Craven Arms and were heading for Barmouth.

He told the inquest that at the bend Mr Thompson had tipped the bike into the bend, started to drift and the brake light came on, smoke came from the rear wheel, the bike sat up and he went across the road into the incorrect carriageway.

"Nigel was on the floor and the bike was between his legs and he was sliding along the floor and the bike slid into the path of the minibus," he said.

He said he stopped and went to look for his friend in the hedgerow, when he found Mr Thompson's bike in the hedge he looked at the bus and realised his friend must be underneath it.

Dyfed Powys Police collision investigator Constable Garry Rees said there were no defects on the road or with either vehicle that may have caused the collision.

Powys coroner Andrew Barkley said Mr Evans could not have done anything else.

He said the cause of the death seemed to have been driver error.