A MOTORCYCLIST died as a result of a tragic road traffic accident, an inquest nearly two years after his death has concluded.

Robert Cattermole, 20, died after a crash between his Yamaha motorbike and Gavin Whitlock’s Vauxhall Corsa in London Road, Lexden, at the junction with Straight Road.

Both men had been travelling in opposite directions with Mr Whitlock going towards Colchester and intending to turn right.

The traffic lights at the time were green allowing both vehicles to proceed into the junction but as he attempted the manoeuvre he hit Mr Cattermole, who died at the scene.

Following the crash in December 2016, Mr Whitlock, from Hornchurch, was arrested and later charged with causing death by careless and/or inconsiderate driving.

But the case was delayed a number of times with Mr Whitlock saying he had suffered post traumatic stress disorder in the wake of the incident.

The Crown Prosecution Service formally offered no evidence in July saying the charges could not be proven to the criminal standard.

Giving evidence at the inquest at Essex Coroner’ Court, PC Jason Howard from Essex Police’s Forensic Collision Investigation Unit said one of the issues in the case was Mr Cattermole’s “conspicuity”.

Mr Whitlock said he did not see Mr Cattermole until the collision. He was not wearing any reflective clothing.

PC Howard returned to the scene of the crash in March this year and ran tests with an exact replica of Mr Cattermole’s Yamaha and a Volkswagen similar to the vehicle behind him on the night to see if the bike was lost in the glare of the car’s lights.

He said there were a particular set of circumstances - if both vehicles were on extreme sides of the lane - that Mr Cattermole may have been obscured but it is likely Mr Whitlock should have had time to see him.

PC Howard said: “When Mr Whitlock took the right turn he failed to give way.

“Mr Cattermole applied a full emergency response, braking which locked the wheel and he fell to the nearside.

“The exact reason why he didn’t see him are not known.

“There is a possibility there was a contrast issue at some point but it would seem there would have been significant opportunity to see the motorcycle as it approached the junction.”

Coroner Caroline Beasley-Murray concluded Mr Cattermole’s death was an accident and asked for condolences to be sent to his family who had chosen not to attend the hearing.

Speaking to the Gazette after the charges were dropped, Mr Cattermole’s mother Debbie criticised the decision and called for similar junctions to be redesigned in a bid to prevent further tragedies.

She said she would not wish the family’s experience on anyone.