Biker found guilty of causing man's death (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Biker found guilty of causing man's death

8:51am Monday 7th July 2008 in Swindon By Emily Walker

A BIKER who refused to take a police breathalyser test after a fatal crash has been found guilty of causing death by careless driving.

Christopher Coe would not allow officers to take a sample for testing after he crashed into pedestrian Richard Flynn.

Mr Flynn, 70, was so severely injured he died by the side of Queens Drive, near the Bulldog pub, before emergency services could get to him.

Coe, 42, of Westbury Road, Penhill, denied death by careless driving while unfit by drink.

But a jury at Swindon Crown Court found him guilty after taking into consideration the alcohol levels in blood taken at the Great Western Hospital.

Acting Insp Colin Conway said: "A major part of the evidence in this case hung on obtaining a court order to obtain his blood sample from Great Western Hospital, which showed that his alcohol blood level was two and a half times the legal limit.

"There was some legal argument about that.

"We don't normally use blood specimens taken from the hospitals.

"Normally they would give a sample of breath or blood or urine at the police station.

"But the judge decided it was admissible evidence and that basically meant that he was found guilty.

Acting inspector Coe said the accident happened on May 17, 2007 when Mr Flynn was using the pedestrian crossing outside the Bulldog pub.

"It was on a Thursday evening and he was crossing the pedestrian crossing, when he was struck by Mr Coe's motorcycle," he said.

"As a result of the injuries he sustained he died at the scene."

Coe collided with a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van, which was turning right out of Rushton Road into Queens Drive, knocking down Mr Flynn on the way.

Mr Flynn, who was also known as Richard Dee or Dick to friends, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Coe and the passenger on his motorbike were travelling towards Coate Water at the time of the collision.

They were taken to the Great Western Hospital for treatment for minor injuries.

While in hospital, medical staff took samples of Coe's blood to check his health and the blood samples helped cement the case against him.

Witnesses to the crash described seeing the maroon Kawasaki motorbike upside down more than 100 yards away from the scene of the accident.

Coe was ordered to return to Swindon Crown Court for sentencing on July 31.