Inquest fails to explain biker’s death


MID-Kent Coroner Roger Sykes “expressed his regret” at being unable to explain the death of motorcyclist Darren Saunders (36) in a fatal road accident in Tonbridge Road, Maidstone. Father-of-three Mr Saunders, of Polhill


Lane, Harrietsham, lost control of his Kawasaki motorbike and collided into a bus shelter near the Cherry Tree Inn on the af- ternoon of Saturday, March 27, last year, the inquest heard. He died that day of multiple injuries. One witness claimed that Mr Saunders, a builder, lost control of his vehicle after being obstructed by an unidentified green car also travelling towards Maidstone. An- other suggestion was that he came off his bike while trying to avoid a grey Peugeot 3008 going in the other direction, which may have turned into his path en route to the nearby dry-cleaners.


MUMS-TO-BE headed to the Southcote Pro-Active Health- care Clinic, in Sittingbourne Road, Maidstone, to celebrate the first birthday of the centre’s Naturally Healthy Pregnancy events. The meetings aim to provide


a complete package of informa- tion for expectant parents be- fore, during and after pregnancy. The session included free treatments, demonstrations and information covering a range of topics from chiropractic and pregnancy yoga to hypnother- apy and homeopathy. Visitors received goodie bags and were treated to a free prize draw and refreshments. Georgina Strickland, mater-


nity reflexologist and mum of two who helps run the events, said: “We’re proud of how suc- cessful our pregnancy evenings have been over the past year and thought it was time we had


Girl (12) injured in car collision


POLICE are appealing for wit- nesses to a road traffic collision in Maidstone town centre on Saturday, February 5, in which a young pedestrian suffered a serious head injury. The 12- year-old girl was taken to Maid- stone Hospital after the accident, which happened at 2.24pm in Lucerne Street. PC Guy Miller, from the Seri-


ous Collision Investigation Unit, asked witnesses to con- tact the appeal line on 01622 798538.


TOUGH SECURITY • FRIENDLY SERVICE Mr Sykes said there was not enough evi-


dence to back either explanation and deliv- ered a verdict of accidental death. Neil Smith told the court that he was driv-


ing the Peugeot car westbound and had come to a standstill at traffic lights at the junction of Queens Road. His girlfriend Kimberley Wratten alerted him to a motor- bike approaching from the other side of the Tonbridge Road. They both said that when the lights changed to green, Mr Smith indicated to turn right but was still stationary by the time Mr Saunders had crashed. . Other wit- nesses concurred with her claim that the car had not gone into the path of the victim. Another key witness was George Crozer,


who said he saw the incident from a black BMW motorcycle he was riding towards Barming. He said he became aware of a small dark


green car, which indicated it was turning left into the entrance of the block of flats be- hind the row of shops, so the lead motorcy- clist tried to overtake it. “However, the car then turned towards


the centre of the road to get a better angle for the turn, so the motorbike had nowhere to go and swerved to the inside. As he passed the green car he clipped the kerb and lost control.” Mr Crozer said the car stopped in the cen-


tre of the carriageway and the lady behind the wheel just sat in the car with her hands on the wheel. “A space of time then ensued, traffic started becoming more organised and I then realised that the green car had gone. A gentleman in a T-shirt then told me that the woman was fine and had parked the car down the road.” However, CCTV footage from the nearby


Birthday celebrations for pregnancy help group Organisers and guests at the birthday celebrations


a celebratory bash to thank all the organisers and everyone in- volved for all their hard work. “The group is run completely


by volunteers who are passion- ate about what they do and offer their advice and expertise for free.


“Anyone is welcome to come


along to future meetings, whether it’s for some advice and information, or just for a chat and a slice of cake.” Remaining dates for 2011 are Saturday March 12, from 2 to 4pm, then April 15, June 10, August 12, October 14 and De- cember 2 from 6 to 8pm.


Beat the criminals IF YOU CAN HELP, PLEASE PHONE: Police: 01622 690690 Crimestoppers: 0800 555 111


POWER tools were stolen from the garage of a home in Beverley Road, Barming. Two cycles were


taken from a sum- merhouse in the garden of a home in Bower Street. Alcohol was


01622 716222 www.amiga.uk.com


INTRUDER ALARMS • ACCESS CONTROL CCTV • SECURITY LIGHTS • FIRE ALARMS


38 Town


stolen from the garage of a home in Bower Mount Road. A silver Carrera cycle, which had been chained to a cycle rack, was stolen from County Hall. A rear window was forced, causing damage in Gloucester Road, Shepway. Suspect: white European male, 6ft tall, slim, with short dark brown hair, wearing dark clothing. Two cycles were taken from


the underground car park in Kingfisher Meadow on Feb-


ruary 7. A 19-year-old man from Maidstone was arrested and cautioned for the of- fence.


Entry was gained


to a garage in Haw- ley Court in Lon- don Road. Nothing appeared to have been stolen. A headlight was


stolen from an MG parked outside the nurs-


ery at St Peter's Church, Buckland Road. Diesel was stolen from a


Volvo lorry in Cuxton Road, ParkWood. A lady's pink mountain


bike was taken from a shed near Swan Apartments, in Wallis Avenue, ParkWood. The pillar was taken from a


Mini Cooper parked in West Court, Enterprise Road.


To contact Downs Mail just phone 01622 630330


pub failed to identify this green car and there were no other witness statements confirming it. PC Mick Sayer said: “I checked local authority road cameras, made automatic num- ber plate recognition checks and made appeals in the local media. Everything we tried to do to find witnesses or details on the green car came to noth- ing.” The court heard that Mr Saunders was an experienced rider and considered compe- tent by his peers. His friend Jeff Upton, who accompanied him on a visit to view another mo- torbike, was driving one of the other two bikes. The victim was not under the influence of alcohol, the road was in adequate condition and no defects were detected on his motorcycle. Mr Sykes, a coroner for 25


years, summarised: “It is highly unusual in my experience that evidence on what may have been the cause, in this case a loss of control leading to a crash, has been contradictory to such an extent. “I have heard evidence from


six witnesses who were present at the scene when this loss of control took place and other witnesses have been spoken to by police. Yet there is no coher- ent thread to their evidence. “On the balance of probabil-


ity I am unable to produce a reason that explains the loss of control but am satisfied that he died of an accident.”


Discharge for tracksuit theft


LUCIA Jasmine Marie Stevens (21), of Coombe Road, Maid- stone, stole a £65 Adidas track- suit from JJB Sports in Maidstone. She was part of a group that committed the crime in Decem- ber last year. Stevens was given a conditional discharge but or- dered to pay £50 costs.


Crematorium work WORK is planned to improve disabled access to the Book of Remembrance hall at the Vin- ters Park Crematorium.


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