Biker's widow sues skateboarder over husband's death

Family seeks six-figure sum over 2007 road traffic collision

Posted: 19 February 2010
by Visordown News

THE WIDOW of a motorcyclist is to sue a skateboarder for a six-figure sum, after her husband was killed trying to avoid the teenager in a road traffic collision.

Suzanne Honey, widow of motorcyclist Tim Honey, has issued a High Court writ after her husband died of multiple internal injuries after a collision on his Suzuki GSX-R1000.

An inquest in June 2008, revealed how Lewis Hart, aged 15 at the time of the crash, stepped into the road to retrieve his friend's skateboard after he'd lost control of it, in Estover, Devon.

Mr Honey, who was riding a Suzuki GSX-R1000, clipped the teenager, causing the rider to veer into the path of the oncoming car, on April 20, 2007.

Police told the inquest there was no evidence to suggest either vehicle was travelling in excess of the 40mph speed limit.

Mr Honey, 47, suffered multiple injuries to his head, including a skull fracture. In addition, the writ states "there was disruption of the right anterior chest wall, of the liver and of the heart. He died later in hospital.

At the inquest city coroner, Ian Arrow, recorded a verdict of accidental death.

Mrs Honey now claims the accident was "caused by the negligence" of the boy. It's claimed Hart ran into the road without properly checking for any approaching traffic, failing to see or hear Mr Honey's motorbike and running into the path of the machine.

The claim is for "unlimited damages that will exceed £300,000" and was for "damages and loss arising from the death" of Mr Honey, reports the Western Morning News.

Mr Honey's family are suing the youth through a Tesco household insurance policy.

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Discuss this story

wingin

Seems like a complete tragedy that the kid on the skateboard will remember all his life anyway, if he has to pay £300,000 upwards he's gonna remember to look before he steps out into the road, though i don't think anything will be learnt from the tragedy. I hope the widow involved gets her money though as losing your husband from such a crazy accident must have been very hard to deal with. I narrowly missed a skateboard the other day driving in London, and have been known to skateboard myself a fair bit. It is true that kids these days are to used to simply running out into roads.

Maybe if we got Gary Glitter to do a re-run of his campaign they'll think again?...

Posted: 19/02/2010 at 15:54

hextal

The kids these days generally seem to be idiots (or at least round the Leeds area) when it comes to self preservation.

Lived in a number of areas around leeds and the kids would make a point of, not just not getting out of the way, but actually jumping out in front of the cars to make people jam on the anchors.

I have long since adopted the habit (and I know it sounds dangerous) or revving the engine (whilst slipping the clutch) and pointing the car at them, my speed actually does drop when I do this, but gives the impression of increasing. Always has the result of scattering them to the kerb. Do it enough times that they don't do it to me anymore.

One place I lived, had a very long narrow drive, kids would actually run and hide behind the car to make me get out and shoo them away before reversing. Clearly no idea that if I hadn't seen them run up I would have just reversed straight over them!!!

Father of one of the above kids came storming over to me after employing my revvy trick against one of his kids. Tried to give me an ear bashing to which I informed him of what his kids were doing and that if he had any wish for little johhny to reach is 10th birthday he might want to point out the general physics involved in a 1.5t car hitting a 5stone child.

Even had some kids playing chicken with me in the snow in my car when they were on bicycles.

Absolute cretins!!

Rant over

Posted: 20/02/2010 at 13:14

eojmo

Had a similar incident a couple of years ago, a scateboarder overshot the kerb but luckely he fell off in the gutter as I swerved to avoid him . His board was crushed under my truck wheels.