Biker, 24, killed in crash at level crossing barrier
A YOUNG motorcyclist who attempted to drive over a railway level crossing in a South Derbyshire village died after hitting one of the barriers as they were coming down and crashing into a lamppost.
An inquest heard joiner Liam Oakley, 24, skidded on his bike and crashed into a barrier at the level crossing between Tutbury and Hatton, near Burton.
Mr Oakley, from Church Avenue, Hatton, died on December 14, last year, at the scene of the accident in Station Road. He was travelling from his girlfriend’s house in Stretton at the time, the hearing held at Chesterfield Coroner’s Court was told.
He had overtaken a bus and was attempting to ride over the crossing as the lights were on and the barriers had started to come down, the hearing was told. His motorcycle skidded on the rail lines and he struck the barrier and a nearby lamppost.
Mr Oakley, who worked at his father’s company, sustained chest and spinal injuries. A post-mortem examination showed his injuries were consistent with “high-speed blunt-force trauma”.
A toxicology report confirmed there was the presence of THC in his system, the active ingredient in cannabis. However, coroner Peter Nieto ruled it was not possible to say whether this had been a factor in his death.
The inquest heard how Liam had taken a walk with his girlfriend the night before.
A statement from Detective Constable Richard Howess, from Derbyshire Police, was read at the hearing, which said: “Liam had stayed overnight at his girlfriend’s house in Stretton. On the morning of December 14, 2021, he left his girlfriend’s house to go to work at his father’s construction firm where he was expected to start at 8am.
“It has been established he set off at 7.50am and he was in good spirits. It had been raining. When he did not appear at work on time, his father, Joseph, sent him a text message. When Liam went through Tutbury, he approached the level crossing.
“There was a car and bus in front of him at the level crossing and double white lines. Liam overtook the bus and attempted to cross the crossing as the lights were on and the barriers had started to descend.
“Liam went around the first set of barriers and attempted to cross the crossing diagonally. The motorcycle skidded on the lines, which unsettled the bike. Liam and the bike struck a crossing barrier as it was descending. Liam’s motorcycle would collide with a nearby lamppost.”
CCTV footage from the bus showed Mr Oakley attempted to negotiate the level crossing and was seen sliding on the road. There were no defects found on the motorcycle, police said.
Mr Nieto recorded a verdict that Mr Oakley’s death was caused by a road traffic accident.
The coroner said: “Liam was riding his motorbike, possibly in a rush to get to work. CCTV footage shows the crossing lights were on as Liam had overtaken the bus.
“The barriers had started to come down and Liam had tried to get through and across. He had gone across the tracks and, due to wet weather and angle, he skidded on the tracks. He collided with the barrier and went into a lamppost. He was pronounced deceased at the scene.
“It is not possible to say whether the cannabis that was in his system had been a factor in his death. It is likely it had worn off long before he left for work, so therefore it will not be an issue considered.
“I am recording the cause of death for Liam Oakley as a road traffic collision. The medical cause of death is 1a multiple injuries caused by 1b an RTC.
“I would like to pass on my sincere condolences to his family.”