Adored grandad killed overtaking van on bike
‘ I DIDN’T SEE HIM.. HE MUST HAVE BEEN COMING AT GREAT SPEED’
AN adored grandad was killed while overtaking a box van on his motorcycle, an inquest has heard.
Garry Owen Roberts suffered multiple crush injuries in the collision while travelling on the B5111 towards Amlwch at around 1.30pm on February 28, 2021.
The 53-year-old, who was originally from Bangor but lived in Rhosybol on Anglesey, had been riding his Suzuki motorcycle and attempted to overtake a Mercedes sprinter van being driven by Christopher Carson.
During the manoeuvre, Mr Carson turned right onto an unclassified road and Mr Roberts collided with the vehicle, becoming trapped underneath, the inquest held in Caernarfon heard.
A post-mortem examination revealed that the father-of-three, who had two grandchildren, suffered severe chest injuries.
Speaking via video link, Mr Carson stated during the hearing that prior to the turn he had switched on his indicators, checked his mirrors and had slowed down to a “reasonable speed”.
Mr Carson said: “I turned my head to the right and there was nothing behind me.
“I did not see anything in the mirrors. “I believe he must have been coming at great speed due to the loudness of the bang when he hit the van.
“Initially I thought it was a pigeon or a pheasant.
“I was very confused because I had checked the mirrors.”
Addressing Mr Roberts’s family who attended the inquest Mr Carson offered his condolences and said that he was “deeply upset and saddened” that the incident had occurred.
His father, Gwynant Roberts, said he felt sympathy with Mr Carson who would have to “live with this for the rest of his life”.
Concluding that Mr Roberts died from multiple crush injuries sustained in a road traffic collision, assistant coroner for north west Wales, Sarah Riley, said: “I am satisfied after hearing the evidence that Mr Roberts was overtaking at the time of the collision. There were no mechanical defects with either vehicle, and no drugs or alcohol were detected.
“Both drivers had appropriate licences.
“Mr Carson had been driving within the national speed limit and wasn’t speeding at the time of the collision although I am unable to determine the exact speed at which he was travelling.
“Mr Roberts sustained multiple crush injuries due to a road traffic collision.”
Following his death, Mr Roberts’s family described him as a “happy-go-lucky” man with a “kind nature” who “adored his two grandchildren.”