A MOTORCYCLE enthusiast died of head injuries after attempting to overtake a van that was turning right a Bournemouth inquest heard.

Former engineer, Timothy Richardson, 55, was killed on his way to work in a horrific collision between his red Ducati motorcycle and a white Volkswagen van near The Naked Cross nursery on August 13 last year.

The van and motorcycle were both travelling south west along Wareham Road and the collision occurred when the van turned right into Waterloo Road at around 7.13am.

Thomas Gleason from Wimborne, told the inquest that he checked his mirror and signalled before turning right.

He added: “I saw him in my mirror quite a distance back behind the speed camera. I thought it was safe to make the turn.

“As I went to make the cross to the opposite side of the road the motorbike impacted the door.”

Tony Inman heard the sound of the motorbike slow down and then ‘accelerate quickly in a matter of seconds’ as he lay in bed at his home.

The sound then ‘petered out’ which he thought was odd the inquest heard. Motorist, Andrew Jordan, who encountered the motorbike earlier said that the rider ‘appeared uncomfortable with the machine and inexperienced’. Accident investigator, PC Andrew Gold, said the van was indicating right when it was found. Investigations showed that the motorcycle was on the wrong side of the road at the moment of impact he added.

Coroner Sheriff Payne said the evidence suggested that Mr Richardson ‘slowed down for the speed camera, dropped a gear then accelerated quite hard from the speed camera’.

He recorded a verdict of accidental death adding: “Sadly Mr Richardson didn’t have regard to the danger created by the van ahead which had been visible for 400 metres at least.”