Darwen man's motorbike death on A59 blackspot was ‘an accident’

12:00pm Thursday 10th January 2013 in News

ACCIDENT Ronald Birch ACCIDENT Ronald Birch

THE death of a motorcyclist, who was killed at an East Lancashire accident blackspot, was accidental, a coroner has ruled.

Ronald Birch, 39, was travelling on the A59 near Sawley when his bike collided with a DAF 18-tonne heavy goods vehicle, which was turning right at the Dunbia abattoir.

The court heard how Mr Birch, a business proprietor who was born in Burnley, but lived in The Meadows, Darwen, had tried to overtake two vehicles and would not have seen the lorry indicate to turn before the collision.

Trudi Wrathwall was driving behind the HGV in her Ford Galaxy from Clitheroe to Gisburn when the crash happened.

She told the court: “The cyclist tried to swerve and I thought he was going to miss the truck, but he did not.

“He came up and as he was at my door, he attempted to pull to the right and I thought he was going to miss it.

“He was just going fast.”

The court also heard evidence from Patricia Rees-Jones, who was travelling in the opposite direction in her Peugeot 207. She said: “I heard a bang and there was a puff of blue smoke coming from the driver’s side.

“There was then, out of nowhere, a motorcycle on its side coming down the grass verge towards me and the motorcyclist was flying through the air.”

The collision happened on September 21, last year shortly before 3pm.

A police investigation found that the road conditions and weather did not play any part in the crash.

The driver of the HGV, Earnest Purcell, told the court he had not seen Mr Birch approaching when the two collided.

He said: “I went down the A59, I had my indicator on. I was about to turn in and he hit me.” Summing up, Michael Singleton, coroner for Blackburn, Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley, said Mr Birch had died from multiple injuries.

Related links

He said: “The only and appropriate conclusion to reach is one of accidental death.

“There is more than one victim here.

“Mr Birch has paid the ultimate penalty but I recognise the distress that this has caused to family and friends.”

Speaking after the verdict, Mr Birch’s father Alan said he hoped the conclusion would bring some closure. He said: “I am just so sorry for what has happened and I feel sorry for that poor driver.

“I just hope he can get on with his life.

“It is just one of those things but it just shows what can happen in a split second.

“One minute you are here and the next you are in the hands of that man above.”

The family thanked the police family liaison officer.

Comments (6)

2:17pm Thu 10 Jan 13

Info-warrior says...

Good night Mr Birch.R.I.P.

Ride Free.
Good night Mr Birch.R.I.P. Ride Free. Info-warrior

2:32pm Thu 10 Jan 13

jean1947 says...

according to the evidence of the witnesses ronnie was not riding fast i wish to add this Ronnie's Mum
according to the evidence of the witnesses ronnie was not riding fast i wish to add this Ronnie's Mum jean1947

9:15pm Thu 10 Jan 13

mrcool says...

Well the witness stated he was going fast. All due respects but I wish these motorcyclists would slow down. They think they own the road and overtake, undertake, then are up in arms when someone doesn't see them. Many times I've have them fly past me on roads and I've thought that further down the road I'm gonna come across them lying in the road. Sorry, but they bring it upon themselves sometimes.
Well the witness stated he was going fast. All due respects but I wish these motorcyclists would slow down. They think they own the road and overtake, undertake, then are up in arms when someone doesn't see them. Many times I've have them fly past me on roads and I've thought that further down the road I'm gonna come across them lying in the road. Sorry, but they bring it upon themselves sometimes. mrcool

11:36pm Sat 12 Jan 13

bigdee123 says...

mrcool wrote:
Well the witness stated he was going fast. All due respects but I wish these motorcyclists would slow down. They think they own the road and overtake, undertake, then are up in arms when someone doesn't see them. Many times I've have them fly past me on roads and I've thought that further down the road I'm gonna come across them lying in the road. Sorry, but they bring it upon themselves sometimes.
shut up, you tosser.
are you a motorcyclists?
[quote][p][bold]mrcool[/bold] wrote: Well the witness stated he was going fast. All due respects but I wish these motorcyclists would slow down. They think they own the road and overtake, undertake, then are up in arms when someone doesn't see them. Many times I've have them fly past me on roads and I've thought that further down the road I'm gonna come across them lying in the road. Sorry, but they bring it upon themselves sometimes.[/p][/quote]shut up, you tosser. are you a motorcyclists? bigdee123

8:51pm Sun 13 Jan 13

working chap says...

bigdee123 wrote:
mrcool wrote:
Well the witness stated he was going fast. All due respects but I wish these motorcyclists would slow down. They think they own the road and overtake, undertake, then are up in arms when someone doesn't see them. Many times I've have them fly past me on roads and I've thought that further down the road I'm gonna come across them lying in the road. Sorry, but they bring it upon themselves sometimes.
shut up, you tosser.
are you a motorcyclists?
Sorry, but Mr Cool is correct about the behaviour of many motorcyclists. You don't have to be a motorcyclist to be able to make a valid comment on how some riders put themselves and others at risk - just a careful road user.
[quote][p][bold]bigdee123[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]mrcool[/bold] wrote: Well the witness stated he was going fast. All due respects but I wish these motorcyclists would slow down. They think they own the road and overtake, undertake, then are up in arms when someone doesn't see them. Many times I've have them fly past me on roads and I've thought that further down the road I'm gonna come across them lying in the road. Sorry, but they bring it upon themselves sometimes.[/p][/quote]shut up, you tosser. are you a motorcyclists?[/p][/quote]Sorry, but Mr Cool is correct about the behaviour of many motorcyclists. You don't have to be a motorcyclist to be able to make a valid comment on how some riders put themselves and others at risk - just a careful road user. working chap

12:34am Mon 14 Jan 13

mrcool says...

bigdee123 wrote:
mrcool wrote:
Well the witness stated he was going fast. All due respects but I wish these motorcyclists would slow down. They think they own the road and overtake, undertake, then are up in arms when someone doesn't see them. Many times I've have them fly past me on roads and I've thought that further down the road I'm gonna come across them lying in the road. Sorry, but they bring it upon themselves sometimes.
shut up, you tosser.
are you a motorcyclists?
Hmmm, I won't resort to name calling when replying to your comment but I will reiterate that a lot of motorcyclists ride like idiots.

In answer to your question, no I am not a motorcyclist. I drive the bigger vehicle, which has 4 wheels and is much heavier that the motorcycle. It's drivers like myself that motorcyclists plead to, via various tv adverts etc, to be careful and think bike....blah blah blah.....yes, I drive a car. You know, the big vehicle, which most motorcyclists think are just obstacles on their personal road race track. That is, until said motorcyclist takes it just a wee bit too fast round a corner or over the brow of a hill and bang, you can guess which comes out the worse. SLOW DOWN, STAY ALIVE.
[quote][p][bold]bigdee123[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]mrcool[/bold] wrote: Well the witness stated he was going fast. All due respects but I wish these motorcyclists would slow down. They think they own the road and overtake, undertake, then are up in arms when someone doesn't see them. Many times I've have them fly past me on roads and I've thought that further down the road I'm gonna come across them lying in the road. Sorry, but they bring it upon themselves sometimes.[/p][/quote]shut up, you tosser. are you a motorcyclists?[/p][/quote]Hmmm, I won't resort to name calling when replying to your comment but I will reiterate that a lot of motorcyclists ride like idiots. In answer to your question, no I am not a motorcyclist. I drive the bigger vehicle, which has 4 wheels and is much heavier that the motorcycle. It's drivers like myself that motorcyclists plead to, via various tv adverts etc, to be careful and think bike....blah blah blah.....yes, I drive a car. You know, the big vehicle, which most motorcyclists think are just obstacles on their personal road race track. That is, until said motorcyclist takes it just a wee bit too fast round a corner or over the brow of a hill and bang, you can guess which comes out the worse. SLOW DOWN, STAY ALIVE. mrcool

Comments are closed on this article.

click2find

About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree