A STAFFORD motorcyclist who collided with a car after the driver failed to see him died in what was a tragic accident, a coroner has ruled.
David Hall, 61, of Rowley Grove, suffered multiple injuries after the smash with a Kia Magentis in Cemetery Road, Cannock.
He was pronounced dead at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire following the crash on July 6 last year.
But at an inquest in Cannock on Monday the family of Mr Hall questioned why no prosecution had been brought. But police revealed the evidence had been passed to the Crown Prosecution Service and lawyers had decided there was no case answer.
Police have since spoken to highways experts about the parking in the road. Highways may look at putting an order in place to keep cars from parking near the junction.
Recording a verdict of accidental death, Staffordshire South coroner Andrew Haigh said he “hoped steps could be taken by highways”.
The inquest heard the driver of the Kia John Foster, from Hednesford, failed to see the Yamaha motorbike coming as there were parked cars in the way.
He told the hearing he was trying to turn into Cemetery Road from Victoria Street and stopped at the broken give way lines for some time as traffic was coming down the road.
Mr Foster said he saw a car indicating to turn left into the road and the driver flashed his lights for him to pull out.
“I edged out and was checking left and right constantly. My movement was very slow. The next thing I heard was a massive bang,” he told the inquest. “The motorbike must have caught the side of my car. I didn’t see him.
“I moved the car back, got out and the motorcyclist was on the floor. He told me his name was David and was trying to get up.”
Witness Philip Wood told the inquest he was driving along Cemetery Road and saw Mr Foster’s car stationary, waiting to pull out.
“I only saw the motorbike at the last second as the view was obscured by parked vehicles,” he said. “He (Mr Wood) could not have seen it from where he was.”
Police investigations revealed the bike appeared to have braked and then skidded onto its side before hitting the car.
PC Paul Hargreaves, from the collision investigation unit at Stafford, said Mr Hall was an experienced motorcyclist who gained his license as a teenager and rode it locally.
