AN experienced biker who fell off his motorcycle and was struck by a lorry on the A127 could have slipped on the icy road surface, an inquest heard.

Chris Simpson, 43, of Seaview Drive, Great Wakering, was riding along the inside lane of the London-bound carriageway, near the Mayflower Retail Park, in Basildon, on December 4 last year, when the handlebars of his bike were seen to wobble and vibrate.

He lost control, came off the motorcycle and slid into the path of a lorry travelling in the same direction in the outside lane. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

McDonald’s delivery driver, Paul McNamara, was on his way to Harlow when he moved into the second lane to let traffic join the A127.

He pulled over to check the vehicle, but couldn’t find anything wrong. He looked behind him and saw the motorbike in the road and Mr Simpson with three people standing over him.

A post-mortem examination found he died of multiple injuries.

The inquest was told he was an experienced rider and would ride his red Suzuki to work in Harlow, where he was a quality inspector for Clement Clarke International.

PC Graham Lant, of the Essex Police forensic collision investigation unit, said the road had been gritted by Essex County Council the night before Mr Simpson died.

He said there was a defect with the bike’s rear braking system, but there had been no evidence of any sudden or harsh braking.

He added: “I don’t think it’s a contributory factor.

“I’m unable to say why the vehicle fell, but it’s possible the motorcycle suffered a mechanical instability and/or slipped on the icy surface in a high point on the road.

“There were no actions Mr McNamara could have taken to avoid this incident.”

In returning a verdict of accidental death, Michelle Brown, assistant deputy coroner for Essex and Thurrock, said a letter from Mr Simpson’s partner, Vicky, who was at the hearing with his parents, illustrated he was a “doting father, stepfather and son”.

She said: “He was clearly loved and will be missed by everyone. It was a heartfelt letter and I can tell howmuch he meant to all of you.

“There’s not much I can say that’s going to make this any better, but I do feel for you as a family.”

Mr Simpson lived with Vicky, her children and his 11-year-old daughter, whose mother died six weeks before Mr Simpson’s death.