Inquest opens on biker’s death
A biker who survived a fatal crash with a second rider has told an inquest how he could have ridden even faster just seconds before the tragedy.
Sunderland-born Frazer Golden, 30, died following a collision with a bike ridden by South Tyneside mechanic David Frost as they travelled in opposite directions in the Durham Dales on Sunday, April 9, 2017.
Following the collapse of a court case against Mr Frost, a three-day inquest is examining the circumstances surrounding Mr Golden’s death.
Giving evidence at County Durham and Darlington Coroner’s Court on day two, Mr Frost was asked about his speed as he approached a bend on the A689, heading from St John’s Chapel to Ireshopeburn, just seconds before the collision.
He said he was initially riding at about 55mph, within the stretch of road’s 60mph limit, before reducing to about 50.
Asked by assistant coroner James Thompson whether he thought he was riding too fast to safely negotiate the bend, he replied: “No, it could have been done even faster, in my opinion.”
Mr Frost, who described him as a “very experienced” rider, said he was then “spooked” by the presence of a bike ridden in the opposite direction by Simon McKenzie, who was returning from Alston with Mr Golden behind him.
He said his Yamaha R1 bike, which he had bought around a fortnight previously, and Mr Golden’s Honda then touched each other’s handlebars.
Stephen Rowlands, from Sunderland, who was travelling behind Mr McKenzie and Mr Golden with a separate group of riders, told the inquest how he had to take evasive action after Mr Frost parted company with his bike.
He estimated Mr Golden was riding between 3035mph and added: “The R1 comes into view, I would say slightly misjudged the corner, coming in a bit too fast, realises there is Frazer on the bike, realises he is going to hit that separate bike, both connected on the handlebar area and both of them together lost control of the bikes.”
Giving earlier evidence, Mr McKenzie, who did not see the collision, said he had ridden dozens of times with Mr Golden and, when asked to describe his friend’s riding, added: “He was a safe rider, always taking his time, never in a rush to go anywhere.”
Another witness, Laura Taylor, who knows Mr Frost and was travelling behind him, described him as a “confident and capable” rider although she too did not witness the incident.
The inquest was told that Nissan maintenance worker Mr Golden, who lived in Seaham, died of neck, head and chest injuries with toxicology reports showing no signs of alcohol or drugs in either his or Mr Frost’s systems.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) initially decided against prosecuting Mr Frost on the grounds of "insufficient evidence" before Mr Golden’s family forced a u-turn after applying for an official Victim's Right to Review.
Mr Frost, then 35 and of Lyon Street, Hebburn, was formally acquitted of death by careless driving in 2019 at Durham Crown Court after the prosecution offered no evidence.
The inquest is expected to conclude today.