Police quash speculation over death of off-roader killed by wire strung between two trees
A MURDER inquiry has been ruled out after a teenage biker was killed when his machine struck a wire strung out across a dirt track in Crossens.
Ryan Acaster, 17, suffered fatal head injuries on Sunday afternoon when he rode into the metal wire suspended between two trees on the trail off New Lane.
Now detectives have quashed speculation that Ryan was the victim of a booby-trap by confirming the wire was intended to bar entry to private farmland.
Ryan – from Brinscall, near Chorley – had been visiting his father Dean, who is separated from Ryan’s mother and lives in the Southport area.
Yesterday. Dean described his son as “a lovely, friendly, happy young man.”
He said: “We don’t want to speculate about the circumstances – we just want to grieve for our son and let the police do their job and investigate what happened.”
Ryan was found lying beside his bike soon before 2pm and was airlifted to the Royal Preston Hospital. He died soon after from what a post-mortem confirmed to be massive head injuries.
He has been described as an experienced off-road rider, who owned his own vehicle and knew the Crossens area well.
Acting Detective Chief Insp Des Coop, of Lancashire Police, said their inquiry included finding out who owned the wire.
He said: “It has never been treated as a trip wire. It is a wire that has been strung across two trees that has been done to restrict access to a particular part of the moss.
“Inquiries are ongoing as to who has put it there.”
