Pedestrian killed after biker crash

A PEDESTRIAN was "catapulted into the air" after being hit by a motorcyclist returning from a bikers' meeting.

Self-employed cleaner Josephine Shepherd, aged 40, died instantly in the crash as she tried to cross the northbound carriageway of the A34 in Newcastle on August 2, 2007.

An inquest heard yesterday how Richard Rhodes was riding home from the Stormy Petrel pub at Tern Hill, near Market Drayton, where hundreds of bikers meet during the summer, when the tragedy occurred.

The 24-year-old electronic design engineer for Siemens, in Congleton, had been riding with a group of friends before becoming separated from them just before they reached Newcastle College.

He was conscious after the accident, near to the Milehouse roundabout, and was taken to the University Hospital of North Staffordshire where he died 16 days later.

Witness Paul Blaise, of Beattie Avenue, Hempstalls, told the inquest he had successfully crossed the road when he glanced behind him and saw Ms Shepherd standing on the central reservation.

He said he then continued on his way before being distracted by a "horrendous bang."

He said: "There were lights and indicators and other things flying everywhere. I did not see her (Ms Shepherd) until she bounced off the floor and spun around.

"Then the bike came whizzing past me and he (the motorcyclist) was shouting 'whoa, whoa'. He was trying to control it and was in the inside lane."

The inquest heard a toxicology report showed Ms Shepherd, of Wilton Street, Cross Heath, had 220mg of alcohol per 100ml in her blood.

Collision investigation officer Carl Kelsall said evidence had shown Ms Shepherd had not crossed the road directly on the pedestrian crossing near to Castletown garage.

He said Mr Rhodes had been wearing a tinted visor on his helmet, which would have affected his visibility if it had been down. But he said there was no evidence to determine if this was the case.

He also said it was impossible to say how fast the motorbike had been travelling due to the lack of evidence and the fact it had continued for some time without the driver following the crash at 9.25pm.

He said: "The pedestrian would have been in view to the motorcyclist. The motorcyclist would have been in view to the pedestrian."

A written statement from prison officer Raymond Sweeney, who said he had followed the group of motorcyclists for several miles on their way back from Tern Hill, was read to the inquest.

He said: "I was pleasantly surprised as a motorcyclist myself that they were riding sensibly and not racing."

The inquest heard the cause of Ms Shepherd's death was multiple injuries. Coroner Ian Smith recorded a verdict of accidental death.

He said: "It was an accident in the true sense. I think there are faults on both their parts. He didn't see her and she didn't see him.

"There are all sorts of questions. Was his visor up or not? Had her consumption of alcohol impaired her assessment of risk?"

Ms Shepherd's sister, Alexia Whitehead, of Chesterton, paid tribute to her on behalf of the family.

She said: "Josephine was a sociable and very likeable person who was always chatty and had many friends. She will be badly missed by all the family who will never forget her."

The inquest into the death of Mr Rhodes will continue today.