The death toll of motorcyclists in Essex this year rose to 28 today.

A motorcyclist died after his bike left the road and struck a series of concrete posts near Earls Colne airfield. It brings to 86 the number of road deaths in Essex so far this year.

The man, from Colchester and in his 20s, lost control of his Ducati 748 machine at 3pm yesterday on the perimeter road.

The man has not been formally identified although close relatives have been informed.

At 7.45pm on Saturday night, 46-year-old James Heelan, of Walthamstow, east London, lost control of his 1100cc BMW machine in Warehouse Road, Stebbing, and was involved in a collision with a silver-coloured Citroen Xsara travelling in the opposite direction.

The motorcyclist was taken to Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford, by ambulance but died shortly afterwards.

The 25-year-old car driver, of Braintree, suffered shock but did not receive any injuries.

Published Monday, November 15, 2004

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