Cause of fatal bike crash a mystery
AN experienced motorcyclist died the day he took delivery of a new bike, a Maidstone in- quest heard. Plumber Kyran Bingham (44),
of Shepway, was thrown from his motorbike, landing on the verge at the side of the slip road at Junction 6 of the coastal- bound M20 on April 26 this year. The accident happened shortly after 7pm, when it was still daylight and the weather was good. Mr Bingham’s wife, Teresa,
told Maidstone and Mid-Kent Coroner Patricia Harding that her husband had possessed nu- merous motorbikes in his life andwas an experienced motor- cyclist. He had sold his last bike in
2011 and, on the day he died, she had driven him to Thorn- ton Heath, London, to collect his latest acquisition – a Suzuki GSXR 600. He was driving the bike back to their home in Plains Avenue when the acci- dent occurred. PC Terence Collins told the inquest that there was no evi- dence to suggest there was any fault with the bike or of any other vehicle being involved in the accident.
Damage to the bike was ex- tensive but consistent with it having collided with the crash barrier, he said. A statement from eyewitness
Ben Gates said he saw the mo- torcyclist somersault from the bike when its front wheel hit an upright post. He saw his crash helmet come off and the victim thrown to the ground, landing on the gravel verge at the side of the slip road. A post mortem examination
found that Mr Bingham died from multiple injuries. He was pronounced dead at the scene when paramedics arrived. Police said the crash helmet
was discovered some eight me- tres away. Although there were no environmental factors asso- ciated with the accident, they said they could not exclude a “transient hazard” such as an animal running across the path of the bike. The coroner recorded a ver-
dict that Mr Bingham died from multiple injuries as a result of a road traffic accident, when he lost control of themotorbike he was riding. She expressed her condo- lences to the family, including his wife, father and two sons.
Hotel boosts charity raffle
THE Mercure Great Danes Hotel in Hollingbourne has donated raffle prizes for the Maidstone charity the Blackthorn Trust. Emma Halpin, Blackthorn’s com- munity fundraiser, is pictured re- ceiving vouchers for an overnight stay and a meal for four from the hotel’s generalmanager, DominicDi Cara. Blackthorn helps individuals with long-term physical and mental health difficulties to rebuild their lives when illness takes over. The charity takes part in the Kent Charity Group Grand Christmas Draw each year. Tickets are avail- able from the trust. A Christmas cupcake workshop
will be held at the centre in St An- drew’s Road, Barming, at 7pm on Monday December 2. The cost of £25 per person includes all ingredients and boxed cakes to take home. On Saturday, December 7, the trust is holding its Christmas Fair from
10.30am to3.30pm when there will be a chance to browse festive good- ies and gifts.
Christmas services at church
ST FAITH’S Church, near Brenchley Gardens, is planning a full programme of festive events. There will be a family carol service with coffee and cake at St Faith’s hall in Ringlestone at 11am on Sunday, December 1. Shoppers can pick up some Christmas gifts at the Fairtrade market at the hall from noon to 3pm on Saturday, December 14. The next day, there will be “tea time” carols at 4pm, followed by carol singing in Ringlestone from
5-6pm. The candlelit carol serv- ice at the church is at 7.30pm on Sunday, December 23. On Christmas Eve, there will
be a Christingle and crib service at 4pm. Hot drinks will be served at 11pm before midnight Holy Communion service at 11.30pm. On Christmas Day, there will
be a communion service at 10am. For details, callRev Jackie Cray
on 01622 851822 or Rev Phil Sheldrake on 01622 671720 or go
towww.st-faiths.org.uk.
Visit Downs Mail’s website —
downsmail.co.uk
East 25
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