Tragedy as ‘kind-hearted’ biker, 61, killed in A500 crash

The devastated family of a former publican who died in an A500 crash have paid tribute to their 'kind-hearted' loved-one. Biker Ian Miller lost his life after crashing into the central reservation near Talke last July.

But it is still not known what caused the 61-year-old - who used to run The Village Tavern, in Joiners Square, and The Rose and Crown, in Etruria - to lose control of his Suzuki. An inquest has now ruled Ian died as a result of a road traffic collision.

A family spokesman said: "He was a character. He was funny and was a lovable rogue, as some would say. He was kind-hearted and would do anything for anyone. Life won't be the same. We all still miss him very much."

Friend Anita Lee had been riding with Ian when tragedy struck.

READ: Family's tribute to biker killed in A500 crash as 'life will never be the same'^[1]

In a statement, she said: "We passed the exit slip-road for Audley and there is a long sweeping right-hand bend and then a left-hand bend. It was as we were coming out of the bend that he started to drift slightly to the right of the centre of lane two. I initially thought there was something in the road that he was avoiding. I looked down at my speed and I was doing 72mph, so he was probably doing about the same. He just seemed to drift towards the central reservation. He didn't wobble or appear to lose control and he didn't appear to control himself or apply the brakes."

Emergency services were called to the southbound carriageway at 4.37pm on July 3 last year.

PC Daniel Sutton, from Staffordshire Police, said: "It is more likely that the bike failed to follow the curvature of the road."

The inquest heard Ian, from Sandon Street, in Etruria, had previously suffered mini-heart attacks and had arthritis in his knees. A post-mortem examination gave the cause of death as 'traumatic head and neck injuries'.

North Staffordshire assistant coroner Daniel Howe said: "My conclusion is that Ian drifted into the central reservation without any indication. The collision was not due to rider inexperience. There was no evidence of a defect with the vehicle and there was no obvious road defect. It was not as a result of intoxication and there was no other vehicle involved.

"It could have been a medical episode but I cannot say to the threshold required. That does mean it is a possibility but it is not a probability. There are some questions that cannot be answered in the scope of an inquest. I am content with the conclusion that Ian died as a result of a road traffic collision. My condolences to his family."

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References

1. ^{^} Family's tribute to biker killed in A500 crash as 'life will never be the same' (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
2. ^{^} or click here (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)