Mystery over cause of motorcyclist's fatal crash

Alex Page (25), of Burcroft Hill in Conisbrough, died on June 27 after coming off his Kawasaki ZX6 on the A630.

The inquest was told that no mechanical fault could be found on the motorbike, Alex was not intoxicated and there was no evidence of speeding.

The coroner was told that any possible reasons for the accident were “pure conjecture."

Mr Page, a railway engineer, suffered multiple injuries including a severed spine and trachea.

The inquest heard he had set off with his brother James, who was in a separate car, to sell the motorbike in Bradford.

But Alex came off the bike on a slight right-hand bend near the driveway of the Butterbusk Cattery on Doncaster Road, Conisbrough.

James Page was travelling in front of his brother when he suddenly saw the motorbike “flipping through the air”.

He rushed to his brother’s side and found him lying face down and not moving.

He said that Alex was a careful motorcyclist and had held his licence since the previous December.

Mr Page said: “I don’t know why Alex came off his bike.”

Joel Williams, who was driving his van behind Alex, said they had gone through temporary roadworks prior to the accident and said the machine had not been speeding.

He said: “It was pulling away but not at excess speed.”

Mr Williams said he did not see the accident happen but added: “I saw a big cloud of dust.”

Despite the efforts of medics,  Alex died at the scene.

Forensic collision investigator PC Mark Smith said that Alex’s helmet had come off during the accident but this was a built-in safety feature to prevent greater injury to wearers in such a situation.

He said that driving conditions were good on the day and that CCTV evidence from nearby businesses indicated Alex was driving safely.

Mr Smith said the bend in the road was gradual and could safely be maneuvered even at 100mph. He added that there was increased wear on the road surface but that it was not in excess of minimum standards.

Road accident investigator Neil Morrell said the evidence from the scene did not indicate a specific cause for the accident.

He told the inquest: “There is no explanation as to why Alex has lost control. Anything is pure conjecture.”

The Assistant Rotherham Coroner Mr Mark Beresford said: “It appears that Alex suffered a momentary loss of control which culminated in the terrible consequences we have heard today.”

He said that while Alex was a safe driver, his relative inexperience may have played a part.

Mr Beresford concluded that Alex died in a road traffic collision as a result of the injuries he sustained.

He said he offered his “sympathy and condolences” to the victim’s family.