Parents of biker Leah Lewis still have questions over daughter's death

THE parents of a woman killed when she came off her motorbike say they are still struggling to come to terms with her death.

Joe and Janet Lewis say although an inquest ruled 21-year-old Leah's death was an accident, they still have questions over what led to her losing control of her bike.

The police investigated the crash and the Crown Prosecution Service decided not to take action against any other motorists involved.

But Mr and Mrs Lewis say they cannot understand why Leah's Yamaha 125 motorbike skidded into the kerb, throwing her off, in the first place.

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Mr Lewis, aged 76, said: "We would like some closure, but we don't know how we can go about it now.

"Leah was beautiful. She was a lovely girl, full of life, with a personality which was very caring and devoted to many issues, usually animals.

"You don't expect your children to die before you. I never thought I would outlive Leah. I keep expecting her to walk in through the front door."

Leah, who lived with her parents at Standon, came off the bike as she rode to work at Standon Care Home, along the A34, close to Loggerheads.

A motorist travelling behind her then hit her. She suffered head and chest injuries and died in hospital.

At an inquest on Friday, North Staffordshire deputy coroner David James said it was impossible to determine the exact cause of the accident.

Mr and Mrs Lewis have found it impossible to sleep upstairs – where they keep Leah's room exactly as she left it – since the accident, on March 22 last year. Instead they rest on reclining chairs in their living room and often stay awake talking about their daughter until the small hours.

Mrs Lewis, aged 50, said: "Leah wouldn't have ridden into the kerb. She was a very careful rider.

"We have been waiting 18 months for the inquest, thinking we might get a reason for what happened.

"All the money she earned she used to spend on animals. She used to re-home pets. Once she went to Newcastle because someone told her three dogs had been abandoned, tied to a gate.

"She got them all homes – and she vetted every one, then went back to make sure they were all right.

"She loved animals. She had a Chihuahua, Bobby, who she loved and she loved riding her horses.

"She was outspoken, intelligent and very perceptive. She lived life to the full, she always had something planned."

Leah, a former pupil at Alleyne's High School, in Stone, left behind one brother and two sisters, Diane, aged 29, Joe, aged 25, and Laura, aged 24.

Mr Lewis added: "The family have been terrific. The funeral was so expensive, because Leah didn't have any insurance, but so many people came and helped."

A letter sent to Mr and Mrs Lewis by the Crown Prosecution Service, says: "There is unfortunately no clear cause for your daughter's loss of control."