Western Daily Press (Saturday)
‘Kind and gentle soul’ died after his moped hit tractor
AMAN described as a “kind and gentle soul” died after his moped collided with a tractor and trailer, an inquest heard.
Nathan Harmer-Taylor, from Martock, was only 28 when he lost his life near Ilminster on September 25 last year.
Assistant Coroner for Somerset, Tim Hayden, told the inquest how Nathan had been travelling east along the New Road between Seavington St Michael and Whitelackington.
At the turn-off to the Dillington Estate, Nathan overtook two other vehicles before colliding with the tractor and trailer as it turned right into the estate.
On a website dedicated to his memory, a tribute said: “Nathan was an inspiration to so many people. He had battled so much in his life and was finally beginning to come out of the other side. He was the kindest, most gentle soul, who was always there for people in their times of need.”
The 28-year-old, well-known for his political activism, was remembered warmly in a Facebook post by the Somerset and Frome Constituency Labour Party, which said he had “transformed his life”.
At the inquest, Mr Hayden read statements from the tractor driver, Benjamin Turpie, and two motorists who witnessed the crash.
The coroner noted that the incident had been captured on dashcam footage and also read a report from Avon and Somerset Police.
Mr Hayden said: “Benjamin Turpie was driving a green John Deere tractor and a trailer loaded with potatoes, followed by Mr Davis and Mr Davidson.
“The tractor indicated to turn right off the road into the Dillington estate and as he was in the process of pulling into the entrance, a moped – driven by the deceased – overtook both the Citroen and the Nissan, on the offside of the road. In the overtaking manoeuvre, it collided with the tractor, which was pulling into the entrance.”
On the dashcam footage, Nathan can be seen “putting his feet down” as he tried to brake, the coroner said. However, the moped slid onto its side and he was carried under the bar linking tractor and trailer.
According to a post-mortem report by Susan Adams, consultant at Yeovil Hospital, the 28-year-old died of a catastrophic head injury.
In his statement, Mr Turpie said he had been travelling “from Dillington Park to Dillington Farm” – a distance of around 500 metres.
He said: “As I travelled towards the estate entrance on my right, I was slowing down, indicating and checking my off-side mirror.
“I know there were cars behind me but I couldn’t say how many. I would have cleared my view ahead and then turned into the estate. Once I was committed in the turn, it’s a busy estate with businesses and other vehicles around, so my focus was on the entrance.
“I heard the sound of plastic smashing and at the time I thought a branch had caught on the beacons of the tractor.”
Mr Turpie stopped his vehicle, got out and saw the people in the car behind him were “hysterical”.
“As I looked back I could see a motorcyclist lying 10 feet away from the tractor and I said ‘where did he come from?’
“They said he was coming past me and that was the first I knew what had happened.”
Although Nathan still had his helmet on, Mr Turpie said he could see his injuries were unsurvivable.
Richard Davis was travelling behind the tractor in his black Nissan pickup and saw a moped “go past” as the tractor started to turn.
He said: “I could see what was going to happen and I said ‘no, no’. The moped was braking but went on its side and under the trailer.”
Mark Davidson, the driver of a Citroen van behind Mr Davis, also witnessed the fatal collision and said: “I was travelling behind a black pickup and I had been following this vehicle for several miles.
“As we went around a right-hand bend I could see a tractor and trailer ahead. We slowed down behind it, as it was slowing down to indicate that it was turning right.
“There was no oncoming traffic and I saw a moped overtaking. It went past me in the centre of the opposite carriageway. I had not seen it until it overtook me, but it was a single rider displaying L-plates at the rear.
“By that time the tractor and trailer were making their manoeuvre across the opposite carriageway. The moped tried to stop but it hit the drawbar. I stopped and called the emergency services.”
Police found nothing wrong with the tractor, trailer or moped that could have contributed to the crash, and the influence of alcohol or drugs was ruled out by a toxicology report. The inquest heard that there was a 30mph warning sign on the road and that Nathan’s moped was calculated to have been travelling between 38 and 44mph at the time of the crash.
Mr Hayden summed up his conclusion on how Nathan met his death. He said: “My conclusion will be that Nathan Harmer-Taylor died as a result of a road traffic collision. The medical cause of death is recorded as a catastrophic head injury. That concludes the inquest into his death.”