An experienced motorcyclist of some 47 years died instantly when he overtook a car he had been following for 5 miles and crashed head-on into a van, an inquest has heard.
Caroline Sumeray, His Majesty’s Senior Coroner for the Isle of Wight, concluded the inquest touching on the death of 64-year-old Graham Charles Nightingale earlier today (Monday).
Evidence read out at the hearing detailed how on the evening of 21st May 2022, Graham Nightingale, of Crescent Road in Shanklin, was riding his Yamaha XVS motorcycle home from a bike tour around the New Forest. As he travelled along the A3054 between Shalfleet and Newport he was involved in a collision with a Ford Transit van.
In what has been described as an ‘out of character’ decision, Mr Nightingale overtook a Mercedes-Benz GLA on a series of blind bends – a vehicle he had been following for around 5 miles since leaving the ferry terminal in Yarmouth. In carrying out this ‘unsafe’ move, he came head-to-head with a Ford Transit travelling in the opposite direction, driven by Richard Green of Shalfleet.
A family travelling at around 40mph in the Mercedes – including 2 young children – witnessed the incident. The son remarked in the seconds before the fatal collision “that bike is going quite fast”.
Mr Nightingale, a member of the Isle of Wight Vintage Motorcycle Club, sustained traumatic injuries in the impact including a severed spine, a laceration to the back of his head and several skull fractures. Mrs Sumeray gave comfort to the family by stating that Graham would have died instantly.
His bike was crushed under the front of the van, which came off the road. The impact was so severe that the bike’s handlebars snapped clean off and Mr Nightingale’s fastened helmet was found 21 metres further along the road.
The inquest heard there was no evidence of a medical episode having taken place, or any impairment through drink or drugs. Both vehicles were also free of any defects.
A detailed Police report, which made up part of the inquest, concluded that human error by Mr Nightingale was to blame for the crash. Mrs Sumeray made clear that Mr Green, driving the Ford Transit, was not to blame in any way for what happened on 21st May 2022.
It was heard in open court that Mr Nightingale’s wife of 12 years, Heidi, wrote letters to Mr Green and the driver of the Mercedes thanking them for their efforts at the scene and stating that they were both in her thoughts.
Mrs Nightingale spoke, through the Coroner, of her wish for a scheme that supports families of those killed or seriously injured on the roads to be expanded to the Isle of Wight, especially given the high number of fatalities on the Island’s roads.
In concluding the inquest, Caroline Sumeray said that Mr Nightingale – a retired training and development consultant who was working part-time as an Asda delivery driver – was a fit and healthy man and a safe, moderate rider – but for reasons unknown he chose to overtake in the ‘worst possible place to do so’.
A conclusion of road traffic collision was recorded, with a cause of death given as severe head, neck and chest injuries.
Graham leaves behind his wife Heidi, children Emma and James, stepchildren Charlotte and Philip and a total of 8 grandchildren – who previously described him as ‘amazing and loyal’ with a ‘constant sense of humour’.
Too many vehicles and motorcyclists overtake
on dangerous narrow roads everyday on the island,
not only are they risking their own lives they are
risking other people’s lives, innocent people
who don’t want to drive wrecklessly.
Speeding Kills!
That is why I am forever going on about speeding
on the island.
Island Roads are different to mainland roads.
We need more traffic Police patrolling our roads
and more speed camera’s and CCTV to STOP
such events taking place.
Have some thought for the driver of the van.
I feel sorry for the van driver.
I despise people who drive or ride on the wrong
side of the road, they are putting innocent people’s
lives at risk.
If they want to kill themselves that is their choice,
don’t try and kill others.
I’m a ex motor cyclists a very sad story
Why do people always go on about the need for more police and speed cameras? What is needed are higher standards of driving. The standard of competence of Island drivers parlous.
Doesn’t matter how experienced a driver or rider you are , there’s always moments of wrong decisions and untimed moments. Tragic and traumatic on both parties
Let’s all be just a little bit more sensible when out driving .