Crash news
07/07/2011

Experienced rider died in motorbike accident with combine harvester

The family of an experienced motorcyclist whose machine was in collision with a combine harvester may consider making a compensation claim for his loss following an inquest verdict.

The Cheshire coroner was told that the 45-year-old father-of-three was riding his Suzuki motorbike in August, 2010, when the accident occurred on the A56 at the junction with the M53 roundabout when he crashed with the giant Claas Lexion combine harvester which was travelling in the opposite direction towards Chester.

A police investigator said the rider had gone onto the roundabout at about 42mph and had braked when he saw the large vehicle but as his motorcycle moved from the far side to the nearside of the road, it lifted up on the rear wheel before hitting the near-side wheel of the farm vehicle.

The victim, who was thrown across the road, suffered a brain injury as well as fractures to his skull and spine. He died later at the Countess of Chester Hospital.

The investigator said that, due to the width of the vehicle and the narrowing of the road, the harvester's nearside wheels had been 0.7 metres over the white line. It had been travelling at 16mph.

He said the motorcyclist had insufficient time and distance to avoid the crash.

Witnesses said that other oncoming vehicles had previously had to slow down or mount the pavement to get past the combine harvester because of its size.

A tractor from the same farm as the harvester, which was acting as an escort and displaying a ‘wide load' sign, was not immediately in front of it at the time of collision but had gone ahead onto the roundabout.

Since the coroner recorded a verdict of misadventure, the police can conclude the investigation. If the driver of the combine harvester is then judged to be liable for the motorbike accident, the rider's dependents will be able to consult a solicitor with a view to obtaining damages for their loss.