A motorcyclist from Sulby died by accident after failing to spot a car turning right ahead of him, a court has heard.
Recording an accidental death verdict on Gary Stewart Hubble, coroner John Needham offered his condolences to Mr Hubble’s family.
The court heard Mr Hubble, a 53-year-old IT support engineer originally from Essex, died from a head injury after his Yamaha Fazer 1000 hit the back of a Vauxhall Zafira as it waited to turn right into Garey Road in Lezayre.
Though he was not travelling fast and the impact was only slight, Mr Hubble was thrown into the path of an oncoming Aprilia RSV1000 ridden by a TT visitor from Leicester, and died from his injuries.
On the day of the accident, June 3 this year, Mr Hubble had been out on his bike with a visiting friend, Stephen Weller, from Kent, and the pair were heading from Ramsey back to Sulby.
A statement from Mr Weller said Mr Hubble, who lived in Sulby, was hospitable and a good friend of 25 years’ standing.
‘I was travelling behind Gary and we were well within the 50mph speed limit on that road,’ he said.
‘The road veered left and there was a car travelling in the same direction in front and its brake lights came on. Gary struck the rear off-side of the car. The bike went down on its side, remaining in the Sulby bound lane.
‘Gary struck the bike coming in the opposite direction. There was no recklessness on any part and I’m sad to lose a good friend.’
Catherine Copeland, from Onchan, who was driving the Vauxhall Zafira, said in her statement she slowed and indicated to turn right and felt a slight thud behind her. Her two children who were sitting in the back of the car did not seem to notice anything. She stopped the car and called 999.
Philip Jordan from Leicester was riding his Aprilia in the Ramsey direction. He told the court his bike was hit by what he initially thought was Mr Hubble’s Yamaha Fazer. Both he and his daughter who was riding pillion came off and landed in the road but were not seriously injured.
His nephew, Ian Jordan from Leicester, was following on his Ducati and a friend, Christopher Smedley from Newark, was behind on a Kawasaki ZX9. Both saw the accident.
Mr Jordan said: ‘Something came out from behind the silver car into the path of Phil’s bike. I’m not sure what it was but they collided with it. We were doing about 40mph.’
Paramedics arrived at the scene within minutes but were unable to revive Mr Hubble. A post mortem report by Dr Christopher Clague said Mr Hubble suffered injuries principally to his head and chest.
Accident investigators found no faults with any of the vehicles involved. Constable Stephen Hall who completed investigations at the accident scene told the court Mr Hubble’s Yamaha had left a four metre skid mark in the Sulby bound carriageway and there was evidence on Mr Hubble’s clothing of an impact with Mr Jordan’s Aprilia. The relatively short skid mark suggested the speed of the Yamaha had been ‘negligible’ he said.
Mr Needham said Mrs Copland had slowed and indicated and it would probably never be known why Mr Hubble was not able to avoid hitting her car: ‘There was no suggestion of excessive speed so there is a degree of mystery as to why the collision occurred,’ he said.