Biker dies atA21 black spot

28/8/14- Scene of a road traffic accident in Whatlington on the A21 SUS-140918-095812001

Experienced biker Mick Kemp, 49, from Dartford, was coming round a bend, near the brow of a hill at Vinehall Road on his powerful 900cc Yamaha bike when he encountered a row of stationary traffic.

He lost control of the machine and came unseated hitting the bumper of a stationary van.

Mr Kemp died at the scene after suffering multiple injuries.

At the time of the accident. 18.33pm on August 27 last year, Mr Kemp was riding in convoy with his friend Alan Ellis, a former London Fire Brigade officer.

They were riding to Hastings, where Mr Kemp had visited on family holidays.

Both men were keen and experienced bikers and raced bikes.

Mr Ellis described Mick Kemp as a ‘safe, competent and experienced rider’.

Mr Ellis, was riding ahead at the time of the accident and managed to pull round the van.

He told the inquest: “It was a nice ride. Weather and visibility was good and everything was fine. “

Mr Ellis heard a noise behind him and got off his bike to walk back.

He said: “I saw Mick’s bike on the floor but I could not see him. Then I realised he was under the van.”

When Mr Kemp fell from the bike the machine continued across the road, colliding first with a moving Ford in the other lane, and then with a parked Smart car.

The van, driven by Hastings man Robert White, had chevrons on the back and yellow flashing warning lights on the roof.

He told the inquest: “I was there 10 - 15 seconds before the crash happened. I saw the bike in my mirror. I saw him brake and smoke was coming out of the tyres.

He seemed to lose control of the bike. It was going from side to side and then dropped. I could not see the rider.”

Ford driver Gillian Rackley said: “There was blind panic as to where the rider was.

“We found him and I tried to reassure him.”

Witness Caroline Rogers said: “I saw the rider fall and disappear from my view.

“It all happened very quickly”

Crash investigation officer PC Stuart Medlycott said: “There was evidence of emergency braking. Braking and leaning to corner could have had a destabilising effect on the motorcycle.”

Coroner Alan Craze, in reaching a conclusion of accidental death, said: “This is not the first fatal accident I have dealt with in and around the Whatlington area.

“There are some very sharp bends. It is a dangerous area without any shadow of a doubt.”