AN inquest into the death of a Barnsley motorcyclist has shown that his death was accidental - after a lorry driver pulled out into his path.
Paul Gibbons, 46, from Athersley, was riding his beloved Yamaha YZF-R6 motorcycle home from work on August 24, 2011, when an articulated lorry pulled out in front of him. The driver was alleged to have been using his mobile phone at the time.
Nigel Gibson, 46, of Church Fenton, pulled out of a farm near South Milford in North Yorkshire just after 6am.
Mr Gibbons, a father of two, tried to avoid the lorry but was struck a "glancing blow" by the trailer and thrown from his bike. He died at the scene.
Mr Gibson’s mobile phone records showed a number was dialled at about the same time as the accident, but never connected, and a 999 call was made 93 seconds later.
Charges of causing death by dangerous driving were dropped in March.
Holly Tibbitts, acting for Mr Gibbons’s family, said: “Mr Gibson’s evidence has been selective at best and in my submission, there is reason to doubt his testimony in respect of how this accident occurred.”
Recording a verdict of accidental death, Coroner Rob Turnbull said: “I am more inclined to believe Mr Gibson was actually making a phone call at that time but that doesn’t delete the fact there’s no evidence he was using his phone when he pulled out."
