Sergeant died in crash on RAF base in Cyprus
A HIGHLY respected Army sergeant who served in conflict zones across the world including Afghanistan and Iraq died after the motorbike he was riding collided with a car being driven by an American serviceman on a British RAF base in Cyprus, an inquest heard.
Colour Sergeant Anthony Oxley, 40, of Ryhill near Wakefield, was riding a motorbike above the speed limit when he was involved in a head-on-crash after the car driver failed to see him while turning across the bike’s path, Wakefield Coroner’s Court was told.
The inquest heard Sgt Oxley, who was married with a threeyear-old daughter and stepchildren, was riding a Suzuki Intruder motorbike along Canberra Drive on the RAF Akrotiri base just after 8am on June 14 2016 when he was involved in collision with the Toyota Corolla.
He suffered multiple fatal injuries and was pronounced dead later that day at a hospital in Nicosia. The inquest was told UK police at the base carried out investigations and passed information to American authorities, who had jurisdiction.
Assistant Coroner John Hobson read a statement out at the inquest from Neil Whelden, a commander with the US Air Force office of special investigations.
Mr Hobson said it was estimated that the car was travelling at 31 kilometres an hour on the road, which has a speed limit of 50kmh.
Mr Hobson said Sgt Oxley was travelling at an estimated speed of 71kmh.
Reading from commander Whelden’s statement, Mr Hobson said: “The witness stated the subject (the car driver) had not slowed down or indicated prior to the right turn, disallowing the deceased the opportunity to avoid collision.”
Commander Whelden added in the statement: “The deceased’s motorcycle’s speed of approximately 43mph was too fast for the area where the collision occurred.”
Mr Hobson recorded a verdict that Sgt Oxley died as a result of a road traffic collision. Sgt Oxley, a Drum Major, had served in the army for 15 years with the Yorkshire Regiment as well as 1st Battalion The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment.