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Leeds biker wheelie... then horror crash with bus - inquest
A biker was involved in a fatal smash with a bus seconds after pulling a high-speed wheelie on his powerful machine.
A friend of 25-year-old Gino Masella broke down in tears yesterday as he described the aftermath of the horrific crash.
Wakefield Coroner’s Court heard that Mr Masella, a tree surgeon of Shaw Royd Court in Yeadon, had been out on his 1,000cc Yamaha bike on the evening of August 5 last year.
After riding for around two hours with friend Gavin Eastwood, who was on his own motorbike, the pair were making their way along Otley Road, Guiseley, just before 11pm.
As they approached the junction with The Green, witnesses reported seeing Mr Masella perform a wheelie as he neared a set of traffic lights.
Returning both wheels to the road, the court heard that he manoeuvred around a car which was stationary at the red lights, braking harshly and continuing to skid through the lights.
He then hit a single-decker bus at the junction, sustaining fatal injuries to his chest and abdomen. He was taken to Leeds General Infirmary but was pronounced dead shortly before 12.30am the following morning.
Giving evidence yesterday, an emotional Mr Eastwood told the court he had watched in horror as his friend crashed into the bus before rushing to his side
Fighting back tears, he said: “I sat down with him and said ‘come on son, wake up.’ But he wouldn’t wake up. He just wouldn’t open his eyes.”
Mr Eastwood said he had not seen Mr Masella pull a wheelie before the crash.
Recording a verdict of accidental death, Assistant Deputy Coroner Kevin McLoughlin said: “The licence to ride powerful motorcycles brings with it a responsibility not to endanger others. I would urge families that have a motorcyclist in their midst to remind them not to show off and to obey speed limits.”
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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