By John Fuller

Last updated at 13:18, Thursday, 06 December 2012

Teenager Kieran Plaskett died after losing control of his motorbike on a narrow country road, hitting a car travelling the other way, an inquest heard.

Because of the speed he was travelling, the 17-year-old, of Rosthwaite, near Keswick, was forced onto the opposite side of the road as he went round a tight double bend near the Lodore Falls Hotel on the B5289 in Borrowdale last July.

Kieran suffered multiple injuries, including a fractured skull, after his 125cc bike collided with a Volkswagen Golf driven by tourist Anne Waters, 66, of Devon.

Kieran only had his Superbyke rmr for a month. Mum Michelle described it as “the love of his life”.

She paid tribute to her fun-loving son at the hearing at West Cumbria Magistrates’ Court in Workington yesterday, describing the former Keswick School pupil as a joker.

“Once Kieran got to know people, he came out of his shell,” she said.

“He always had friends, and enjoyed playing football. He wasn’t much good, but he tried.

“He also played hockey, and at senior school took up rugby, and earned his brown belt in ju-jitsu.

“Kieran was a joker, and always had a smile on his face. He always looked after everything that was given to him. I’m proud to say I brought Kieran up well. He was never embarrassed to show his emotions.”

Kieran had only started an apprenticeship at Keswick’s HiQ garage two days before his death.

He was a former Keswick School pupil, and planned to start a course at Lillyhall’s Lakes College, in September 2011.

PC Philip Murray, a collision investigator for Cumbria Constabulary, was at the scene shortly after the incident. He said the motorbike was trapped under the VW Golf, and confirmed the impact area was on Mrs Waters’ side of the road.

“Nine out of 10 times, it would have been okay for Kieran to borrow some of the other lane,” he added.

“But this time, Mrs Waters was in that space.

“Kieran had to use a little bit of the other side of the road because of the speed he was going, but there’s nothing to say he was going beyond the speed limit.”

Deputy coroner Robert Chapman recorded a verdict of accidental death.

He said; “The clear evidence demonstrates Kieran was on the wrong side of the road. On balance, he was going too fast and that was due to inexperience.

“Mrs Waters could do nothing to get out of the way.”

First published at 12:32, Thursday, 06 December 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk