A taxi driver “stood no chance” of avoiding a teenage motorcyclist who died in a fatal collision in South Moor, Stanley, in County Durham, last October, an inquest heard.
Tony ‘TJ’ Hedley, 16, died on October 5, 2024, after suffering head and neck injuries in a collision with a white taxi driven by Kevin Malpass. He had been riding a motorbike and attempting to overtake as Mr Malpass moved to turn right from Park Road into Charles Street.
At a hearing at Crook Coroner’s Court, Jeremy Chipperfield, senior coroner for County Durham and Darlington, concluded Mr Hedley died due to a road traffic collision.
The coroner heard evidence from police investigators and witnesses, who recalled seeing the blue Yamaha bike carrying Mr Hedley and a pillion passenger heading one way down Park Road before returning. As it travelled northbound “at speed” at around 8pm, the Yamaha collided with the taxi as it turned.
At the inquest, the coroner heard how Mr Malpass had driven “entirely reasonably” and could not have been expected to anticipate the bike’s overtaking manoeuvre. The bike collided with the driver’s side of the taxi and Mr Hedley was thrown from the vehicle.
He suffered a range of injuries to his head and neck and, despite efforts to resuscitate him, was pronounced dead at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle about 90 minutes later. Toxicology reports confirmed he had no trace of alcohol or drugs in his system.
Mr Hedley’s passenger was also taken to hospital with what police said at the time were “serious injuries”.
(Image: Iain Buist/Newcastle Chronicle)
Madeleine Davies-Luke, a forensic collision investigator at Durham Constabulary, gave evidence about her team’s investigation. She said: “We took an emergency call made to police by witnesses to the incident. I believe local units attended first followed by [roads policing unit] officers and then we were contacted. The incident took place in Park Road, Stanley, at the junction with Charles Street.”
Answering questions from senior coroner Jeremy Chipperfield, she said the force had not been able to precisely establish how fast the bike had been travelling at the time of the collision.
She said: “We were not able to do so definitively, but CCTV shows it going faster than other traffic at the time and it appears to be going faster than the 30mph speed limit – but we weren’t able to get a definitive speed.”
She added Mr Malpass had driven safely and conducted the checks he ought to have. She said: “At the time he conducted his mirror checks prior to turning at the junction it was clear that there were no vehicles for him to consider, especially given the speed limit of that road.”
She added: “It is entirely reasonable that he may not have perceived the motorcycle as a hazard at that point.”
Michael Boyd, who witnessed the collision as he was collecting a pizza, said in a statement read by the coroner: “I saw a bike coming really quickly. As it was going past my car I could see it had two lads on it.
“I returned to my car and drove to leave the car park. As I looked to my right I saw the same motorbike coming back towards me at speed. There were still two people on it. I could see a white taxi turning right into Charles Street
“The motorbike was following and went to overtake just as it was turning. It went straight into it. The taxi driver stood no chance [of avoiding the crash]. “
Kevin Malpass, driver of the taxi, added in his own statement: “It was about [8pm] and when turning right I had activated my right indicator and conducted all my checks and mirror checks. As I was turning right I heard the sound of a motorbike.”
The senior coroner in his closing remarks said: “I am going to record a conclusion that TJ died in a road traffic collision.
“At around 8pm on October 5, TJ was riding a motorcycle northbound in Park Road, Stanley, when he attempted to overtake – and collided with – a car that had been travelling in the same direction which was turning right into Charles Street. He suffered multiple injuries and his death was caused by a road traffic collision.”
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View news Source: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/taxi-driver-stood-no-chance-30952789
