'Displaced' mirror was factor in fatal crash, inquest hears

A motorcyclist killed in a crash in the west of the Isle of Man could not have stopped in time to avoid a Jeep because of his speed, an inquest has heard.

Gareth Jack Underwood, 37, was riding home to Ramsey via Kirk Michael on 15 April when his Honda collided with the Jeep. He suffered lacerations as well as chest and rib injuries.

Recording a verdict of accidental death at Douglas Courthouse, coroner James Brooks offered his condolences to Underwood's family.

PC Richard Goldie said a fixed mirror at the crossroads, which helped drivers with limited visibility, had been "displaced", so the Jeep's driver and passenger could not have seen the bike approaching from further away.

The mirror, according to PC Goldie, had been fine the day prior, but he believed another vehicle had hit it, resulting in it sloping downwards.

PC Goldie said there were too many variables to determine what speeds the vehicles were travelling at; however, he admitted that the junction in question was being reviewed by the Department of Infrastructure.

Coroner Brooks read out witness statements from the day and agreed while various statements described Underwood's riding in different ways, it was according to the witness's own style of driving.

He agreed the warehouse manager, was an "experienced rider and considered safe and courteous" on the roads, adding the route he had taken was one that "he is comfortable with".

Coroner Brooks concluded from the evidence presented that Underwood was travelling at 70mph (112km/h) just before the collision took place.

That speed, he said, would explain why the driver of the Jeep did not see him.

"At 70mph he would not be visible at the point that the vehicle had turned," he said.

He added that when Underwood saw the vehicle turning at the crossroads, he started braking heavily and "wobbling", the same motion mentioned by one witness.

The Jeep had only just completed the manoeuvre when Underwood's bike collided with it, and he and the bike fell near the side of the wall and slid further.

Coroner Brooks described the death as an unintentional act, with Underwood suffering fatal injuries to the chest and ribs.

The coroner also thanked those members of the public who stopped to assist Gareth as he waited for emergency services to arrive.

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