Nothing farmer could do to prevent fatal biker collision
Inquest hears how sensible rider was just ‘in the wrong place at the wrong time’
AFARMER said there was “nothing he could have done” to avoid an oncoming biker from Widnes who veered into the path of his combine harvester.
Retired day care centre owner Garry Norton was out riding his classic motorbike towards Ruthin with two friends when the accident happened on the A525 Nant Y Garth pass – between Llysfasi college and the quarries in Denbighshire at around 1.10pm on September 8, 2019.
The 67-year-old of Chedworth Drive, Widnes was pronounced dead at the scene.
An inquest into his death at Ruthin County Hall on Friday heard how the trio had stopped at the Ponderosa Cafe on the Horseshoe Pass before setting off in their usual convoy formation – with Mr Norton always at the back.
But as they approached the double bend on the single carriageway, Mr Norton, who had travelled the route many times before, lost control as he negotiated the corner and veered over the central line into the path of an oncoming combine harvester which ran over him.
Its driver, Trebor Ellis, who was travelling at less than 20mph in the opposite lane, said it “all happened so quickly” that he didn’t even have time to react.
In a statement read out at the hearing, he said: “It’s very sad. There’s genuinely nothing I could’ve done to avoid it... the incident has affected me greatly and my condolences go out to the family.”
Passing motorist Lynne Wright was travelling behind the agricultural vehicle and said “suddenly and without warning, bits flew up into the air,” which at first she thought were “bits falling off” it.
Drivers stopped to help and carried out chest compressions on Mr Norton while the air ambulance was scrambled, but despite their “valiant efforts,” he died at the scene.
Pathologist Mark Atkinson recorded the cause of death as multiple crush injuries.
No mechanical defects were found on either of the vehicles.
Vehicle examiner, Gavin Davies, concluded the bike had been “leaning” into the direction of the combine harvester on the bend when Mr Norton was struck.
Recording a conclusion that Mr Norton died as a result of a road traffic collision, coroner for North Wales East and Central John Gittins described him as a “sensible rider of great experience” who was “out doing something he loved enjoying the North Wales scenery with great friends”.
He said the father could have had a “momentary lack of judgement” and was just in the “wrong place at the wrong time”.
Speaking after the hearing, his devastated wife and children said they are planning to make a donation to the air ambulance in his memory and expressed their gratitude to farmer Mr Ellis for extending his sympathies to them.