Post by gixer11 on Oct 6, 2011 9:50:01 GMT
A BIKER who died after colliding with a deer as he rode down a country road was in the wrong place at the wrong time, an inquest has heard.
Harold John Hill, 65, died of severe head injuries following the incident on the B1257, at Low Thornhill, near Chop Gate, in North Yorkshire, on July 4.
Mr Hill, from Brotton, near Saltburn, in East Cleveland, was riding his Ducati motorbike when the deer suddenly darted across the road, straight into his path, causing him to fall from his bike.
He was found in the road by passing drivers who tried to resuscitate him, but was declared dead shortly afterwards.
Traffic Sergeant John Clayton, a collisions investigator for North Yorkshire Police, said Mr Hill had almost no time to react before the deer ran into his path.
He said: “Mr Hill was doing no more than 50mph at the point of impact with the deer, which he hit on the right flank, causing the front wheel of his bike to go from under him which led to him falling from the bike.
“He was an experienced biker whose vehicle was in immaculate condition, but he had no chance to take avoiding action, although tyre marks show that he did try to brake.”
Recording a verdict of accidental death, coroner Michael Oakley said: “It is a fact that, unfortunately, sometimes vehicles will encounter animals trying to cross a road. Because he was riding a motorcycle he would have been more prone to serious injury than he would if he were in a car.
“It is very clear that he was in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
