Alcohol and tyre pressures contributed to motocross death
December 11, 2007
A TEENAGER had been drinking alcohol but was not over the drink drive limit when he died after his motocross bike crashed into a tree, an inquest heard on Friday.
Flat tyres may also have been a contributing factor to the collision at Swampy Field, Burton End, Haverhill, on August 8, which claimed the life of 18-year-old Andrew Armstrong.
Police investigators believe a combination of the two factors may have caused the crash, but there was no evidence to prove the exact events.
After the hearing, conducted by Suffolk coroner Peter Dean at Bury St Edmunds Magistrates Court, Mr Armstrong's mother Paula said: "My son wasn't over the legal limit and we do not condone drink driving.
"Thank you to everybody involved who has been so good to the family."
Mr Armstrong had been riding his Honda CR125 off-road motocross bike with friend Kerry Westley, who was riding his own bike, on the afternoon of August 8 - just nine days after his 18th birthday. The inquest heard that Mr Westley had been practising jumps with Mr Armstrong at about 2.30pm when he turned round to see his friend lying on the floor next to a telegraph pole. The pair had ridden together on a number of occasions and in police interview Mr Westley described Mr Armstrong as 'an experienced off-road motorcyclist'. Mr Westley immediately called the ambulance service but paramedics could do nothing to resuscitate Mr Armstrong and he was pronounced dead just before 3pm. A post mortem that was carried out determined that Mr Armstrong had died from head injuries.
The inquest heard that accident investigators described Mr Armstrong's bike as having 'several mechanical issues'. The officers testing the bike also found that the tyres were at a pressure level a third of what is recommended for a motocross bike. There were several other issues found, with the rear wheel also discovered to lock up sometimes.
A blood test found that Mr Armstrong had 59mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood, below the drink drive limit of 80mg in 100ml. The police report said that although this wasn't at an illegal level, it was still enough to affect Mr Armstrong's reactions and decision-making. From the report Mr Dean read: "The two most contributing factors are the low tyre pressures and the level of alcohol in Andrew Armstrong's blood." Mr Dean said: "What clearly took place on that day was a tragic accident and our thoughts are very much with his friends and family."
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