Teenage motorcylist died after colliding with pick up truck in Leeds, inquest told

Luke Deegan, 19, of Whinmoor, was riding an Aprilla motorcycle on Paradise Way, Bramham, on January 24 2020 when the accident happened, Wakefield Coroners Court was told.

Mr Deegan was pronounced dead at the scene just before 2.15pm that day.

The inquest heard two witnesses told police that they believed Mr Deegan had been travelling above the 60mph speed limit before he collided with the Toyota Hilux truck, which was pulling a trailer.

The Toyota driver, which was heading in the same direction as Mr Deegan, was turning right into a farm entrance when Mr Deegan collided with the side of the truck.

Retired farmer Howard Ingham was a passenger in the Toyota, which was being driven by his son James.

Reading Howard Ingham's statement to police, assistant coroner Sarah Watson said: "He was unaware of the presence of the motorcycle until he heard a loud bang at the side of his son's vehicle."

The inquest heard witness Rebecca Chappell was driving a Suzuki Swift at between 50 to 55mph along on Paradise Way heading towards Bramham.

Reading Rebecca Chappell's statement, Miss Watson said she saw a motorcycle in her rear view mirror before it overtook her, adding: "It was going quickly, it made her look at her speed."

Miss Watson said Miss Chappell wrote: "It was probably only 30 seconds from when the bike overtook me to the time of the collision. In my opinion, the bike was going over the speed limit."

Another witness, postman Stephen Bell, was travelling along Paradise Way towards Aberford at around 45 to 50mph when he saw a motorcycle heading towards him.

Miss Watson said Mr Bell estimated the motorcycle was travelling at 80 to 90mph.

Forensic collision investigator Michael Pennells told the inquest that there was no evidence from his investigations to suggest that Mr Deegan was travelling at excessive speed.

Miss Watson asked collision investigator Mr Pennells: "Is there any suggestion the driver of the Hilux had conducted the manouvre in an unsafe manner?"

Mr Pennells replied: "No"

A post mortem found Mr Deegan's cause of death was as a result of acute severe injuries from a road traffic accident.

Recording a conclusion that Mr Deegan died as a result of a road traffic collision, Coroner Miss Watson said: "It is more likely than not that he was going over the national speed limit, however at the time of the accident I have no evidence of what speed he was going."