Man killed by tragic error of fellow biker (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Baildon man killed by tragic error of fellow biker

7:30am Wednesday 16th December 2009 in News By Marc Meneaud

A one-armed biker died when his specially-modified motorbike crashed at a cross roads – seriously injuring his grandson and killing a blameless Baildon motorcyclist.

A coroner yesterday recorded a verdict of unlawful killing on Mark Dossett after Gordon Thackray, 58, who was riding a bike he had adapted so he could use it with one hand, ignored a give way sign and smashed into Mr Dossett near Askwith, North Yorkshire.

Mr Dossett, 45, of Cliffe Terrace, died at the scene in tragic circumstances “under which he had no control”, the inquest in Harrogate was told.

Mr Thackray’s 12-year-old grandson, Anthony Windsor, of Yeadon, suffered two broken legs in the double fatal accident on April 5.

He had been riding pillion when Mr Thackray rode straight across a junction. Mr Dossett slammed on his brakes, but could do nothing to prevent the accident.

Witness Michael Collins, who was riding his BMW motorbike nearby, told the inquest: “Mr Thackray didn’t slow down at all. I couldn’t believe it when he just carried on.”

Police crash investigator Steve Kirkbright told the inquest that, had he lived, it would have been “highly likely” Mr Thackray, of Valley Drive, Ilkley, would have been facing criminal charges of causing Mr Dossett’s death by careless driving.

Coroner Geoff Fell described the modifications to Mr Thackray’s 25-year-old trial bike as a “Heath Robinson” contraption.

Mr Kirkbright said there had been “an air of disbelief” among police at the scene at the state of Mr Thackray’s bike and the adjustments he had made to it.

However, the court heard evidence that Mr Thackray, who had lost his right arm in a motorbike accident in the 1970s, could ride it competently. It had passed its MOT shortly before the crash.

Mr Fell suggested that, because of his disability, Mr Thackray might have found it “an inconvenience” to stop at the junction.

When asked whether the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) had given any advice about possible prosecutions, Mr Kirkbright replied: “Yes. They were of the opinion it was highly likely that there would have been a prosecution for causing death by careless driving had Mr Thackray lived.”

Mr Fell recorded a verdict of unlawful killing on Mr Dossett and a narrative verdict that Mr Thackray’s death was caused when he “failed to comply with a give way sign and as a consequence collided with a motorcycle on a major road”.