Norwich couple hit by vehicles in motorcycle crash in Spain
Kieron Haines, 68, and his wife Sharron, 65, were travelling on the A8 motorway near the resort town of Llanes, in the Balmori area, on September 11, 2023. But in a freak accident, the couple, of Clovelly Drive, Hellesdon, lost control of their motorbike during a period of heavy rain and were flung onto the tarmac. In a further heartbreaking twist, while they lay injured on the road, they were then hit by vehicles that had been travelling behind them - including a car and a lorry - dying instantly.
Part of the motorway was temporarily closed, and local media reported the deployment of a mobile intensive care unit, Civil Guard officers and a crew from a nearby fire station. Following the tragedy, the driver of the car was subsequently found to have high levels of THC - a compound of the drug class B cannabis. 
An inquest held this week at Norfolk Coroner's Court, based in County Hall, Norwich, heard that Mr and Mrs Haines - known affectionately as "the two Rons" - had been on an organised motorcycle tour when the crash happened. They had met other members of their group on a ferry in Santander, some 60 miles (90km) away, before embarking on their journey. They were told by the tour leader to ride up to the speed limit of 120km per hour (75mph) to avoid being separated.
And while the onslaught of heavy rain and increasing traffic caused the group to split, the speeds of the motorbikes did not ease, the court heard. The group later pulled into a service area, where they were informed of Mr and Mrs Haines' crash. The inquest was told that some members of the group were left "shocked" and "horrified" at hearing the news.
One person described the couple as "friendly" and "likeable". 
Discussion of alternative routes or changing plans due to the bad weather were not discussed, the court was told. Investigations by Spanish authorities found that the car driver had a THC level of 6.3 ng/ml in their blood - around three times the UK limit. The legal THC limit for drivers in England and Wales is 2 micrograms of THC per litre of blood.
Spain does not set a numerical THC blood limit, but any detectable illegal drug impairment can lead to sanctions. THC is the key psychoactive chemical in cannabis. The lorry driver was also breathalysed and no drugs or alcohol were detected.
Finally, the investigation looked at the road layout, which was found to be a level dual carriageway with a gentle curve. It reported that the condition of the road looked good, with a clean surface and ditches on either side. 
At the time of the crash, the couple had both been wearing full equipment. Mr Haines - an enthusiastic beekeeper - had been the rider, while Mrs Haines was his passenger. The retirees, who had that year celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary, were experienced motorcyclists and travelled across the UK and Europe.
They also had an allotment together. The court confirmed that Mr Haines, who was previously employed as a fabricator, died from multiple cranial fractures, loss of encephalic mass and severe head trauma due to a traffic accident involving a motorbike. While Mrs Haines, a former secretary, died from a laceration of brain stems and high cervical trauma because of the crash.
Concluding the couple died from a road traffic collision, area coroner Yvonne Blake expressed her condolences to the couple's family and friends. 
'THE TWO RONS'
Following their deaths, members of the Hellesdon community paid tribute online. Shelagh Gurney, who served on Norfolk County Council for the parish, wrote a message to her local allotment holders' association, saying she was "devastated to say the least".
"It is with great sadness and upset that I have to advise you that my dear friend and bee colleague Kieron Haines and his dearest wife and old school friend of mine Sharron have both lost their lives in a freak motorcycle accident whilst touring in northern Spain," she said.
The BMW Club East Anglia, which they belonged to, added: "It is with a sad and heavy heart that we have to announce the deaths of Kieron & Sharron Haines ("the two Rons") in a road traffic accident in Spain.
"Kieron and Sharron were a well known and popular couple in The BMW Club, and beyond, and this sad news will come as a shock to many in our biking community."