Driver should have seen motorbike approaching, inquest told

THE ELDERLY driver of a car which struck and killed a motorcyclist should have been able to see the vehicle approaching, according to an inquest.

John Bentley, 73, of Achnacone Drive, Colchester, collided with Hastings plasterer Barry King on the A259 Little Common Road at 3.05pm on August 14 last year.

The 53-year-old Brackendale resident, who was out for a Sunday ride with his son Simon, died of multiple injuries at the Conquest Hospital later that day.

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An inquest at Hastings Magistrates Court on Wednesday recorded that Mr King's Honda VFR 800CC struck the door of Mr Bentley's Seat Cordoba as the latter driver pulled out into his path from Sutherland Avenue.

Crash investigation officer PC Albert Marriner said the bike was travelling around the 30mph speed limit, and would have been visible to "a reasonably attentive driver".

He said: "It appears the driver has either not looked for approaching traffic, has looked and not seen the vehicle, or has seen the vehicle and not acted on the situation appropriately."

Mr Bentley, who was returning home after lunch with his 95-year-old Bexhill-based mother, said he checked the road was clear before pulling out.

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He said he did not see the motorcycle approaching, but later heard a "violent strike" on the side of the car.

He said: "It was clear in my mind at the time that it was clear to proceed."

Witness Ave Smith was waiting to cross into Sutherland Avenue as the car emerged.

In her statement, she said: "The motorcycle seemed to come out of nowhere. I could not give any estimates about its speed, but it seemed to be going quite fast."

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But son Simon, who was travelling behind his father, claimed they were both observing the speed limit.

PC Marriner estimated the motorcycle's speed at between 25 and 38mph, and said the bike was well within the driver's visibility radius of 75 to 100 metres from Sutherland Avenue.

He said: "He was 22 to 34 metres away and well within view. For the motorcyclist to be out of sight, he would have to have been travelling at between 84 and 112mph."

Coroner Alan Craze recorded a verdict of accidental death.

He said: "Statistically, motorbikes take one in every 100 vehicle journeys on the road, but are involved in 30 in every 100 road deaths.

"That statistic underlines how much more dangerous a motorbike is than a more protected vehicle."

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