Safety demand for Shropshire's A525 after biker and pedestrian killed

Fisherman Roy Bundy was struck by a motorcycle ridden by Walter Dobrowolski on the A525. Both pensioners died of multiple injuries following the crash, which happened close to the county’s Villa Farm fishing pools.

Mr Bundy was crossing the road after a fishing trip when he was run over on March 21. An inquest heard there were inadequate signs to warn drivers and motorcyclists that there were likely to be people crossing the road at that point.

Mr Dobrowolski, 67, of Telford, and Mr Bundy, 79, from Chester, and were both pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.

Assistant coroner for Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin, Heath Westerman, recorded a conclusion that both men died following a road traffic accident on the road between Whitchurch and Broughall.

But he was critical of the lack of warning signs – and warned another tragedy would happen without action being taken.

The inquest at Shirehall in Shrewsbury heard that retired Mr Dobrowolski, an experienced biker, was not speeding and was riding safely.

Mr Westerman said: “This was a very, very tragic accident on a road that needs considerable work done in order to prevent this happening again,” he said.

Mr Bundy, of Vicars Cross, was crossing the busy road after fishing at Villa Farm when he was hit. The inquest heard that Mr Bundy’s son was also killed in a road traffic accident by a drink driver.

PC Neil Taylor, a forensic collision investigator,said it is estimated that Mr Dobrowolski was travelling between 40 and 43 miles per hour at the time of the crash. said: “It is highly likely the motorcyclist would have been in Mr Bundy’s view when he started to cross the road,” he said.

“His clothing was dark, which may have had a detrimental effect and Mr Dobrowolski had insufficient time to react.”

PC Taylor has recommended the site is reviewed by Shropshire Council and that pedestrian warning signs are put up.

Mr Bundy’s wife, Freida, said in a statement that her son had been killed by a drink driver, adding: who said her husband was a family man who loved gardening and holidaying with his children.

“Our son Stephen was killed in a road accident by a drink driver,” she added. “When I looked out of the bedroom window and saw the police car, it was like history was repeating itself again. I didn’t want to let them in.”

Mr Dobrowolski’s wife, Ursula, said her husband had ridden a motorcycle most of his life and had taken an advanced driving course. She said: “He was active man with an active lifestyle. When he left the house I would always tell him to go carefully and he would reply, ‘I always do’. I believe it is just one of those tragic things that happen.”

Chris Weaver, owner of Villa Farm Fishing off the A525 near Whitchurch, has called for a speed limit to be introduced on the road, which he says is also regularly crossed by schoolchildren. He also backs the call for warning signs.

He told police officers that the fishing pools are also regularly used by school children who have to cross the busy road.