Driver’s anguish of accident near Chippenham (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Driver’s anguish of accident near Chippenham

4:00pm Friday 10th February 2012 in News By Tom Mooney

The death of motorcyclist Michael Colley, who fell from his bike and died when he was struck by a passing ambulance responding to a 999 call, was an accident, an inquest has ruled.

Mr Colley, 33, a marquee erector with a company in Sutton Benger, of no fixed address, was travelling back from a party in Calne last August 14 when he crashed his Suzuki GSXR. Passers-by stopped to help but an ambulance carrying a patient from Calne Liberal Club to Royal United Hospital, in Bath, came over the brow of the Black Dog Hill on the A4 near Chippenham.

They tried to flag down the ambulance but the driver didn’t see them and struck Mr Colley, who was still lying in the road, the hearing in Trowbridge yesterday heard.

Driver Jane Grant, an ambulance driver for 12 years, said she was travelling at 56mph when she hit Mr Colley. She said she was not distracted, not tired, or under any pressure.

She added: “My vision was impaired by the bright headlights of the oncoming vehicle. I would say I was momentarily blinded.

“There were about two seconds between seeing the headlights and the impact. I think it was the moment of impact (that I realised it was a person).”

Mrs Grant, her colleague Helen Barnett and a police officer tried to save Mr Colley. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

A post mortem examination, carried out by Dr Hugh White, showed Mr Colley died from multiple injuries. He was almost four times over the legal drink drive limit. Sgt Richard Moorhouse said Mr Colley collided with the curb but there were no defects found on his bike.

Assistant deputy coroner Ian Singleton said: “This was a result of a number of factors. I take the view this was an accident. That is not to trivialise Michael’s death but to represent what took place.”

A Great Western Ambulance Service spokes-man said: “We offer our heartfelt sympathy and condolences to the family of Michael Colley.

“Since this tragic incident, the trust has continued to offer support to the crew, both dedicated professionals committed to saving lives, for whom this was undoubtely a very traumatic experience.”