Worthing motorcyclist died after crashing into van on A27

Joshua Southgate suffered "unsurvivable" brain injuries following the collision with the Ford Transit Connect van on the A27 near Worthing on September 23 last year. Drivers and paramedics battled to revive the 20-year-old at the roadside but he died at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton on September 25. The 62-year-old driver of the van, from Waterlooville, was uninjured.

In October, hundreds of riders took to the streets to remember Mr Southgate, who was described[1] as "a very, very nice young man" by a colleague from Bacon and Co. Estate Agents. At the inquest on Monday, PC David Cook, who was part of the collision investigation unit who attended the incident, said it was not possible to determine the exact speeds the bike and van were travelling at on the section of dual carriageway, which had national speed limit restrictions.

But, he said, witnesses described the "loud noise" of the blue Yamaha bike and said it was travelling at "excess speed". One witness said they noticed the van moving into lane two of the westbound carriageway between Castle Goring and Clapham. They then saw Mr Southgate perform an undertake manoeuvre prior to the crash.

Hundreds of riders remembered Mr Southgate (Image: Eddie Mitchell) A driver who was travelling in lane one said a motorbike "travelling in excess of 100mph" came "very close to the car" and "swerved in front of us" before "crashing into the rear of the van". In a statement read to the hearing at Horsham Coroner's Court, the driver of the van said he was unaware of the motorbike until he heard and felt an "almighty bang and shudder". He could see smoke and pulled over to check his van.

It was then he saw the motorcyclist in the road when he walked back towards the scene, which he described as "pure carnage". Another witness who was joining the A27 said he saw the van move into the second lane, described Mr Southgate as going at a "hell of a speed" and said it "appeared the motorbike was trying to squeeze between vehicles". Mr Southgate's mother, Sharon, and father, Alan, who were supported by their son's friends at the hearing, said this was "out of character".

PC Cook said it was likely the van may have been unaware of the motorbike even with checking rear mirrors and said Mr Southgate should have had good visibility of the van but that he may have "misjudged the van's intentions". He said there was good visibility and fine weather conditions at the time of the crash. He said there were several gouge marks in the road from the collision, and he described the significant damage to the motorbike as well as to the rear right side of the van.

No traces of alcohol or recreational drugs were detected in Mr Southgate's blood. Photographs of Mr Southgate in the estate agent where he used to work (Image: Eddie Mitchell) Coroner Kate Fawell-Comley returned a conclusion that Mr Southgate's death was due to a road traffic collision. She said it was likely Mr Southgate was travelling at "high speed" and that it was possible the driver of the van had not finished or started manoeuvring between lanes.

She said she was satisfied the van driver was unaware of Mr Southgate approaching and satisfied "in theory" that Mr Southgate had time to see the van "but for whatever reason" was not able to avoid the crash. "It stands testament to someone when so many attend their inquest," she said. "Especially when so many of Josh's friends are here.

"It demonstrates how missed he is."

References

1. ^ In October, hundreds of riders took to the streets to remember Mr Southgate, who was described (www.theargus.co.uk)