St Asaph-born dad died after ‘momentary lack of control’ led to crash
Adam Michael Kenyon, a St Asaph-born father of one and car recovery agent, died aged 30 on May 13, 2023.
Following a full inquest into his death, held in Ruthin today (April 5), John Gittins, senior coroner for North Wales East and Central, recorded a conclusion of road traffic collision.
Mr Kenyon’s medical cause of death was noted as multiple injuries.
Hundreds remember Kinmel Bay motorcyclist killed in crash[1]
Tributes to ‘kind, generous’ Kinmel Bay dad killed in A470 crash[2]
Adam's old recovery truck at his memorial event in Rhyl (Image: Samantha Anne)
The inquest heard that Mr Kenyon, whose “passion was cars and motorcycles”, had bought the bike he was riding on the date of his death about seven weeks prior to the crash.
Chris Fletcher, a friend of Mr Kenyon’s, was riding with him on May 13, having accompanied him when he bought the Aprilia motorcycle.
They started riding at about 11.30am, deciding to ride to Llanberis, and both had their motorcycle intercoms on to communicate with each other while riding.
While riding on the A470 towards Betws-y-Coed, they negotiated a right-hand bend, followed by a short, straight stretch of road, and then a left-hand bend.
Mr Fletcher said he suddenly heard “s***, s***” through his intercom, before turning his motorbike around and finding Mr Kenyon lying in the road.
Paramedics attended, but he was pronounced dead at 1.36pm.
John Henshaw, who was driving the Citroen Berlingo which Mr Kenyon hit, said he “did everything I could” to avoid the crash.
He was also tested for alcohol at the scene of the crash, which returned a negative result.
North Wales Police conducted its own investigation into the circumstances surrounding Mr Kenyon’s death, and found no relevant defects with the road itself, or either vehicle.
Mr Kenyon’s mobile phone was analysed but was found not to have been in use at the time of the crash, with the last call he made having been to his wife, Kayleigh, while parked outside a Llanrwst garage.
Adam's wife, Kayleigh, at his memorial event in Rhyl (Image: Chris Bell)
William Saynor, of North Wales Police’s Forensic Investigation Unit, said there was “no evidence to suggest that the driving of Mr Henshaw was anything other than normal”.
Nor, Mr Saynor said, was there any evidence of Mr Kenyon being intoxicated, or exceeding the speed limit, while riding his motorbike.
It appeared that the side stand on the left side of Mr Kenyon’s motorbike had come into contact with the road, followed by a momentary loss of traction between its rear tyre and the road.
Mr Kenyon, ultimately, was ejected from his motorbike before hitting Mr Henshaw’s oncoming vehicle.
Adam's memorial event in Rhyl (Image: Chris Bell)
This was described by Mr Saynor as an example of “high siding”, a type of motorcycle accident characterised by sudden and violent rotation of the bike.
It is possible, Mr Saynor added, that Mr Kenyon may not have been fully aware of the bike’s handling and characteristics, given he had not long purchased it.
Concluding, Mr Gittins said: “There are no factors here to suggest for one moment that this was a case of reckless driving, or anything of that nature.
“This appears to me to be a momentary lack of control on Adam’s part.
“This is a man who was very much-loved and is, no doubt, much-missed.”
References
- ^ Hundreds remember Kinmel Bay motorcyclist killed in crash (www.rhyljournal.co.uk)
- ^ Tributes to ‘kind, generous’ Kinmel Bay dad killed in A470 crash (www.rhyljournal.co.uk)