Motorcyclist, 71, killed as he overtook lorry illegally near Whitchurch, inquest hears
A 71-year-old motorcyclist was killed in a crash as he overtook a lorry illegally near Whitchurch, an inquest heard.
Paul Emlyn Jones was involved in a crash with two cars and a lorry on the A41 at Higher Heath on August 16.
The inquest held at Shirehall yesterday, heard the retired bus driver, of Whitegates, Wrexham, was riding a Yamaha motorcycle when he overtook a large goods vehicle and crashed into the back of a car which was waiting to turn into a junction.
Mr Jones was thrown from his motorcycle and hit by an oncoming vehicle.
John Ellery, coroner for Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin, said Mr Jones’s cause of death was multiple injuries due to a road traffic collision.
A post mortem examination was carried out at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, and the doctor said Mr Jones’s death would have been instantaneous, the inquest heard.
A statement read out from Pc Neil Taylor, a road collision forensic officer, said: “The collision had directly involved four vehicles. A motorcycle, a large goods vehicle, a Volkswagen Fox and a Saab convertible. The road had been closed in both directions. Prior to the collision, the motorcycle had overtaken the large goods vehicle and collided with the rear of the Fox.
“The driver was unseated and projected into the path of the Saab.” Witnesses estimated that Mr Jones was travelling between 50 and 60mph. A vehicle examiner, Michael Saunders, said there were no contributing mechanical defects found in the vehicles.
He added: “It’s my opinion that the overtaking was on double white lines and as such was illegal.
“I’m of the opinion that there is no alternative action by the surviving drivers that could have changed the outcome.
“The rider’s action led to his unfortunate demise.”Mr Ellery recorded that Mr Jones died in a road traffic collision.
