A MOTORCYCLIST from Kidderminster 'looked both ways' before he pulled out of a junction into the path of an oncoming car and died, an inquest has heard.

Mechanical welder Oliver Rowles died at the scene of a crash between his Generic motorbike and a car at the junction of the A449 and Castle Road near Cookley on November 5 last year.

The 22-year-old was on his way home from work at Titan Steel Wheels in Cookley when he was struck by the Peugeot 207, causing him to be thrown from his bike, over the top of the car and into the road.

A statement from Oliver's dad Ray Rowles, read at Worcestershire Coroner's Court, described him as 'the Michael McIntyre of our family', who had a passion for cooking and superheroes.

"His love of superheroes taught Oli to always do the right thing," it read. "He brought light into people's lives. He was always there when people needed him.

"His adult life had just begun. He had recently met a girl. They had just met but had already planned to spend their lives together. He wanted to be a hard-working family man."

The final hearing of the inquest into Oliver's death on Thursday (February 21) heard how paramedics and bystanders battled for 40 minutes to resuscitate him before he was pronounced dead at 3pm.

A post-mortem found several broken ribs, external fractures to his leg and internal injuries which ultimately caused him to bleed to death. No alcohol or drugs were found in his blood.

Katrina Bedford, who was driving the Peugeot along the A449 from Kidderminster towards Wolverhampton, told coroner Simon Charlton how she tried to steer to avoid hitting the rider, but was too late.

She said she had been left traumatised by the incident, and now suffers from short-term memory loss.

Factory operative Allojzy Pietrzyk, who was in the vehicle behind Oliver's as it pulled out of Castle Road, described seeing the motorcycle being driven 'sensibly' before the crash.

He said: "I pulled up behind the motorcycle at the junction. The motorcyclist kept moving closer. He did not stop and put his foot down at any time.

Kidderminster Shuttle:

(Castle Road junction. Picture from Google Maps)

"He looked both ways then I heard an aggressive revving sound from the motorcycle - I could hear it over the sound of my car radio.

"At the same time I saw the car approaching the junction. The motorcycle pulled out, but did not turn right or left. For some reason it did neither. I saw the rider look to his right and a split second later there was a loud bang."

He added: "From what I could see the Peugeot driver had no chance to avoid the collision."

A police investigation found no mechanical or structural faults with either vehicle, nor evidence that the bike had been forced from behind onto the carriageway.

In a report read out in court, PC Nick Stafford, of West Mercia's collision investigation squad, said the junction was clearly marked with clear visibility, and found the sun would not have impaired either motorists' vision.

Analysis of the scene found the Peugeot was travelling a maximum of 41mph when it struck the motorcycle, and would have to be travelling at 335mph to be out of view when Oliver pulled out of the junction.

The stretch of the A449 has a 50mph speed limit, with a 30mph advisory limit on the bend near Castle Road.

No signs of break application were found on the road surface.

Summarising, Mr Charlton said: “It is clear to me Oli had a clear view and did make a fatal error. He collided with the Peugeot and died at the scene."

The legal cause of death was recorded as 'died as a result of a road traffic collision'.

Speaking to The Shuttle after the hearing, Oliver's older sister Whitney Rowles said: "This isn't the ending we were hoping for. We wanted this to be taken to criminal court. We've had no closure.

"We had the same trainer and Oli was a safe rider.

"I gave up my bike to pay for Oli's funeral and I don't think it's right riding my bike when Oli isn't here to ride his."

Dad Ray added: "We still sit at home every day expecting Oli to walk through the door. We'll never get used to not having him here with us."