Biker killed in fireball horror
Faulty trailer lights linked to death of former police officer, inquest hears
A LINCOLNSHIRE biker was killed on one of the county's roads after he crashed into a tractor trailer with faulty lights, which then caught fire, an inquest has heard.
Neil Petford, 37, a former police officer, was riding his Kawasaki superbike in Kirton Road, near Gainsborough, when the incident happened on July 23rd last year.
Yesterday's inquest heard Mr Petford had begun to overtake a tractor pulling a trailer stacked with bales of hay when the tractor turned right across his path into a farm entrance. The impact spewed petrol over the hay cart, which subsequently burst into flames.
According to a post-mortem examination report the rider was killed instantly.
The inquest heard that the indicator lights on the trailer were faulty, meaning Mr Petford would not have seen an indicator flashing.
It was estimated that Mr Petford was travelling at between 80 and 90mph before the crash.
Coroner Richard Marshall recorded a verdict of accidental death.
