A BALD tyre and muddy patches on the road could have contributed to the tragic death of 18 year old Newent motorcyclist Shaun Payne last year, an inquest heard this week.

Shaun, a roofer, of Foley Road, Newent, was riding his red Yamaha 125cc motorbike with his mum Francine driving her car not far behind when he crashed on the B4215 on October 24.

Mrs Payne, who had her younger son, Max, with her had lost sight of Shaun while waiting in a queue of traffic. She then heard that a motorbike had crashed on the road ahead and she rushed to the scene and held her son’s hand while paramedics tried desperately to save him.

At the Gloucester inquest the assistant county coroner, Caroline Saunders, concluded his death was due to a road traffic collision.

The inquest heard that Shaun left work at Hempsted at 5pm and that on the ride home he was stationary at some temporary traffic lights and as he pulled away he lost control and ended up in the opposite lane and then collided with a Fiat Punto coming the other way.

Doctor Adam Brown, who attended the scene with paramedics, said: "Shaun was treated at the roadside after being hit by a car. He had been thrown from his bike and his helmet had been thrown off.

"There was evidence of significant head injury and he did not have any output or respond to any of the life-saving treatment.

The driver of the Fiat Punto, Jessica Cronk, told the inquest that she had been travelling from Highleadon at about 40-45 mph when she applied the brakes, but collided with the bike.

PC Richard Hignett, collision Investigator, told the inquest: "There were mud patches along the carriageway probably due it being used by agricultural vehicles."

He identified scratch marks 11 metres long on the road, indicating the bike slid along prior to the collision.

The Assistant Coroner said: "After negotiating a left hand bend Shaun apparently lost control colliding with a motor vehicle.

"I recognise several contributory factors. There was evidence of muddy patches across the road which could become slippery when wet and the rear tyre of the motorbike was devoid of tread.

"Both of these could have contributed to the accident."