Motorcyclist, 65, 'had no time to react'

Lawrence Smith, 65, of Chesham Lane, Chalfont St Peter, was killed instantly when his black Honda motorbike was in collision with a gold four-wheel drive vehicle near a gateway in Denham Lane, Chalfont St Peter.

The High Wycombe inquest heard on Tuesday that Mr Smith was found dead at the side of the road by a passing motorist.

Dawn Blake, a former hospital nurse, told the court that she came across the scene of the accident by chance on July 26, last year.

She explained: "I realised an accident had just happened. I saw a motorcycle off the road. It was badly damaged.

"No-one else was there except for a man wandering around speaking into his mobile phone. I realised this man was in shock.

"I asked him where the motorcyclist was.

"I went over and saw a man lying flat on his back.

"The other chap followed me and asked if he was alive and asked me 'is he breathing I don't think he is'.

"My observation was that he was dead."

The driver of the Isuzu Trooper, Philip Copplestone, of Ogborne St George, Wiltshire, spoke at the inquest only to confirm his name, address and that the vehicle he was driving was in collision with Mr Smith's motorcycle in Denham Lane.

Dr David Bailey, a consultant pathologist based at Wycombe Hospital, told the inquest that Mr Smith died from multiple injuries consistent with those expected from a road traffic accident.

Dr Bailey added: "The injuries to the head would have been enough to kill him (Mr Smith) straight away. I would be very much surprised if he didn't die straight away."

PC Stuart Parratt, of the Thames Valley Police Accident Investigation Unit, explained it was likely that Mr Smith, who was thought to have been travelling at about 60 to 70mph, "had no time to react to the developments in front of him".

Bucks Coroner Richard Hulett concluded: "Mr Smith must have died very suddenly and would not have suffered."

A verdict of accidental death was recorded.

James Cox