An Audi driver couldn't have done anything to avoid the death of a much-loved dad in a bike crash, an inquest heard.

Shaun Balmer, of Sydenham Road, Hartlepool, died on Raby Road on January 4, last year. The 23-year-old was riding his quad bike when an Audi Q7 pulled out forcing him to swerve into railings.

An inquest into Shaun's death was held at Teesside Coroner's Court and heard Shaun died as a result of a blunt force head injury sustained in the collision. Following the dad's death his family said: "Shaun was a dearly loved father, son, brother and boyfriend.

"We are in shock at his loss and our lives will never be the same without him."

At the time of his death, floral tributes were tied to a metal gate where Shaun lost his life. They were accompanied by emotional messages from friends and family.

One touching message read: "I will never forget you, I'll cherish you for the rest of my life."

During the inquest on Wednesday, the circumstances surrounding Shaun's death were revealed. The inquest heard the crash was investigated by Cleveland Police and a reconstruction took place.

A report by officers said Shaun was travelling north on the road but was not wearing any protective gear including a helmet. Summarising police evidence, assistant coroner for Teesside and Hartlepool Karin Welsh said: "To his nearside an Audi Q7 was parked outside a takeaway.

"It appears this vehicle has pulled into the path of the quad bike driven by Shaun who then took avoiding action. He effectively hit the kerb and collided with some railings and sadly sustained severe head injuries which ultimately led to his death."

The inquest heard CCTV footage was reviewed and found Shaun was travelling at 48mph in a 30mph zone. It was also claimed the Audi made checks before he pulled out but visibility was poor.

According to police, due to the quad bike and Shaun's clothing being black as well as light issues the bike would have been very hard to see. The police report states: "At the time of the collision the sun would have been directly adjacent to this wall which would have created a shadow on this section of road.

"There was very little difference in the colour, contrast and brightness between Mr Balmer on his quad bike and the background he was driving away from. In addition to this the quad bike was also travelling towards the Audi with very little lateral movement this makes an object harder to see."

Police concluded that the dad would have been "extremely difficult to see or totally out of view." Recording a verdict, assistant coroner Welsh said: "Shaun took action to avoid the Audi Q7 which had pulled into his path but there was nothing the Audi driver could or should've done which would have avoided the collision.

"Therefore the appropriate conclusion is that Shaun died as a result of a road traffic collision."

https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/audi-driver-couldnt-done-anything-26303635

On 22/02/2023 06:17 pm, swldx...@gmail.com wrote:

> An Audi driver couldn't have done anything to avoid the death of a much-loved dad in a bike crash, an inquest heard.
> Shaun Balmer, of Sydenham Road, Hartlepool, died on Raby Road on January 4, last year. The 23-year-old was riding his quad bike when an Audi Q7 pulled out forcing him to swerve into railings.
> An inquest into Shaun's death was held at Teesside Coroner's Court and heard Shaun died as a result of a blunt force head injury sustained in the collision. Following the dad's death his family said: "Shaun was a dearly loved father, son, brother and boyfriend.
> "We are in shock at his loss and our lives will never be the same without him."
> At the time of his death, floral tributes were tied to a metal gate where Shaun lost his life. They were accompanied by emotional messages from friends and family.
> One touching message read: "I will never forget you, I'll cherish you for the rest of my life."
> During the inquest on Wednesday, the circumstances surrounding Shaun's death were revealed. The inquest heard the crash was investigated by Cleveland Police and a reconstruction took place.
> A report by officers said Shaun was travelling north on the road but was not wearing any protective gear including a helmet. Summarising police evidence, assistant coroner for Teesside and Hartlepool Karin Welsh said: "To his nearside an Audi Q7 was parked outside a takeaway.
> "It appears this vehicle has pulled into the path of the quad bike driven by Shaun who then took avoiding action. He effectively hit the kerb and collided with some railings and sadly sustained severe head injuries which ultimately led to his death."
> The inquest heard CCTV footage was reviewed and found Shaun was travelling at *48mph* in a *30mph* zone. It was also claimed the Audi made checks before he pulled out but visibility was poor.

Those German cars are quite clever, aren't they? They can do these
checks without any human agency. Well, either that or the reporter is
auditioning for a job at road.cc.

> According to police, due to the quad bike and Shaun's clothing being black as well as *light* *issues* the bike would have been very hard to see. The police report states: "At the time of the collision the sun would have been directly adjacent to this wall which would have created a shadow on this section of road.
> "There was very little difference in the colour, contrast and brightness between Mr Balmer on his quad bike and the background he was driving away from. In addition to this the quad bike was also travelling towards the Audi with very little lateral movement this makes an object harder to see."
> Police concluded that the dad would have been "extremely difficult to see or totally out of view." Recording a verdict, assistant coroner Welsh said: "Shaun took action to avoid the Audi Q7 which had pulled into his path but there was nothing the Audi driver could or should've done which would have avoided the collision.

And if he (the cyclist) was moving at 48mph in a 30mph speed limited
road, he'd have been further back and outside the distance in which one
could reasonably expect a cyclist to be.

Any idea what the police meant by "light issues"?

> "Therefore the appropriate conclusion is that Shaun died as a result of a road traffic collision."

You can't argue with that.

> https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/audi-driver-couldnt-done-anything-26303635

Condolences to the family, for whom these reported proceedings must have
been distressing.

QUOTE:
> "Therefore the appropriate conclusion is that Shaun died as a result of a road traffic collision." ENDS

Give that man a banana!

On 22/02/2023 12:17, swldx...@gmail.com wrote:

> An Audi driver couldn't have done anything to avoid the death of a much-loved dad in a bike crash, an inquest heard.
> Shaun Balmer, of Sydenham Road, Hartlepool, died on Raby Road on January 4, last year. The 23-year-old was riding his quad bike when an Audi Q7 pulled out forcing him to swerve into railings.

Is a quad-bike a form of pedal-cycle?

The words "bicycle" or "bike" imply two wheels.
>
> An inquest into Shaun's death was held at Teesside Coroner's Court and heard Shaun died as a result of a blunt force head injury sustained in the collision. Following the dad's death his family said: "Shaun was a dearly loved father, son, brother and boyfriend.
> "We are in shock at his loss and our lives will never be the same without him."
> At the time of his death, floral tributes were tied to a metal gate where Shaun lost his life. They were accompanied by emotional messages from friends and family.
> One touching message read: "I will never forget you, I'll cherish you for the rest of my life."
> During the inquest on Wednesday, the circumstances surrounding Shaun's death were revealed. The inquest heard the crash was investigated by Cleveland Police and a reconstruction took place.
> A report by officers said Shaun was travelling north on the road but was not wearing any protective gear including a helmet. Summarising police evidence, assistant coroner for Teesside and Hartlepool Karin Welsh said: "To his nearside an Audi Q7 was parked outside a takeaway.

If a quad-bike is a motor-cycle, isn't a helmet compulsory?

> "It appears this vehicle has pulled into the path of the quad bike driven by Shaun who then took avoiding action. He effectively hit the kerb and collided with some railings and sadly sustained severe head injuries which ultimately led to his death."
> The inquest heard CCTV footage was reviewed and found Shaun was travelling at 48mph in a 30mph zone. It was also claimed the Audi made checks before he pulled out but visibility was poor.
> According to police, due to the quad bike and Shaun's clothing being black as well as light issues the bike would have been very hard to see. The police report states: "At the time of the collision the sun would have been directly adjacent to this wall which would have created a shadow on this section of road.
> "There was very little difference in the colour, contrast and brightness between Mr Balmer on his quad bike and the background he was driving away from. In addition to this the quad bike was also travelling towards the Audi with very little lateral movement this makes an object harder to see."
> Police concluded that the dad would have been "extremely difficult to see or totally out of view." Recording a verdict, assistant coroner Welsh said: "Shaun took action to avoid the Audi Q7 which had pulled into his path but there was nothing the Audi driver could or should've done which would have avoided the collision.
> "Therefore the appropriate conclusion is that Shaun died as a result of a road traffic collision."
>
> https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/audi-driver-couldnt-done-anything-26303635

On Wednesday, February 22, 2023 at 7:37:17 PM UTC, swldx...@gmail.com wrote:
> QUOTE:
> > "Therefore the appropriate conclusion is that Shaun died as a result of a road traffic collision." ENDS
>
> Give that man a banana!

Do these people get paid for stating the bleeding obvious?

On 06/03/2023 00:36, swldx...@gmail.com wrote:

> On Wednesday, February 22, 2023 at 7:37:17 PM UTC, swldx...@gmail.com wrote:

>> QUOTE:
>>> "Therefore the appropriate conclusion is that Shaun died as a result of a road traffic collision." ENDS
>
>> Give that man a banana!
>
> Do these people get paid for stating the bleeding obvious?

Why are you asking yourself?

Either you know or you don't know.

And we all know which is the more likely.

On Monday, March 6, 2023 at 6:36:52 AM UTC, swldx...@gmail.com wrote:
> On Wednesday, February 22, 2023 at 7:37:17 PM UTC, swldx...@gmail..com wrote:
> > QUOTE:
> > > "Therefore the appropriate conclusion is that Shaun died as a result of a road traffic collision." ENDS
> >
> > Give that man a banana!
> Do these people get paid for stating the bleeding obvious?

If so - gizza job.

swldx...@gmail.com <swldxer1958@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Monday, March 6, 2023 at 6:36:52 AM UTC, swldx...@gmail.com wrote:
>> On Wednesday, February 22, 2023 at 7:37:17 PM UTC, swldx...@gmail.com wrote:
>>> QUOTE:

>>>> "Therefore the appropriate conclusion is that Shaun died as a result
>>>> of a road traffic collision." ENDS

>>> Give that man a banana!

>> Do these people get paid for stating the bleeding obvious?

> If so - gizza job.

I’m not sure you would recognise the bleeding obvious even if it smacked
you in the gob.

--
Spike

On 06/03/2023 11:10, swldx...@gmail.com...

....talking to himself, said:

> On Monday, March 6, 2023 at 6:36:52 AM UTC, swldx...@gmail.com wrote:

....talking to himself, said:

>> On Wednesday, February 22, 2023 at 7:37:17 PM UTC, swldx...@gmail.com wrote:

>>> QUOTE:
>>>> "Therefore the appropriate conclusion is that Shaun died as a result of a road traffic collision." ENDS
>
>>> Give that man a banana!

>> Do these people get paid for stating the bleeding obvious?

> If so - gizza job.

Yes, but it will sometimes involve words with more then three syllables.

You're not really ready for that.

On 06/03/2023 16:51, JNugent wrote:
> On 06/03/2023 11:10, swldx...@gmail.com...
>
> ...talking to himself, said:
>
>> On Monday, March 6, 2023 at 6:36:52 AM UTC, swldx...@gmail.com wrote:
>
> ...talking to himself, said:
>
>>> On Wednesday, February 22, 2023 at 7:37:17 PM UTC, swldx...@gmail.com
>>> wrote:
>
>>>> QUOTE:
>>>>> "Therefore the appropriate conclusion is that Shaun died as a
>>>>> result of a road traffic collision." ENDS
>>
>>>> Give that man a banana!
>
>>> Do these people get paid for stating the bleeding obvious?
>
>> If so - gizza job.
>
> Yes, but it will sometimes involve words with more then three syllables.

Erratum: "more than three syllables".
>
> You're not really ready for that.
>

QUOTE: The inquest heard CCTV footage was reviewed and found Shaun was travelling at 48mph in a 30mph zone. It was also claimed the Audi made checks before he pulled out but visibility was poor. ENDS

Silly fool shouldn't have been speeding in poor visibility - it was no "accident".