Gareth Brightmore of Birchgrove Road, Horsted Keynes, attempted to avoid a blue Ford Focus which was attempting a u-turn in front of him. He was flown to hospital with severe head injuries but died soon after. The accident happened on August 28 last year and the inquest was held today at Haywards Heath Town Hall, a verdict of accidental death was recorded by coroner Penelope Schofield.

The accident was witnessed by Jackie van Leeputten as from her own car after leaving Haywards Heath, having seen the Ford Focus parked up on the opposite side of the road, facing her, as it started to pull out into the carriageway. She said: "I became aware of a stationary vehicle on the side of the road. As I started to come up the hill the car in front of me I was coming up to the bend. "I saw a motorbike coming around the corner and you could see what was going to happen. "I would have thought he would have seen the blue car, but then he seemed to cut across in front of the vehicle in front of me."

She said Mr Brightmore collided with the oncoming Mercedes and he was thrown over the roof of the vehicle, before landing on the road. She stated that it was difficult to see but traffic was moving relatively slowly. Collision investigator PC Christopher Harrison stated that Mr Brightmore had to swerve into the path of the Mercedes, in order to avoid the blue Ford Focus.

A toxicology report showed Mr Brightmore had evidence of cannabis in his blood at the time of the accident he had been wearing a helmet and there were no mechanical defects to either vehicle or the motorcycle.Mr Harrison stated that Mr Brightmore acted in a way which contributed to his death. However, Mr. Harrison said that on investigation the indicators in the Focus were in a neutral position although the driver claimed to have indicated to turn. Former St Giles C of E Primary School pupil Mr Brightmore was left tributes and photographs at the site of the accident.

Horsted Keynes parish councillors have previously called for a lower speed limit to be imposed on the 60mph road, but had been told there were not enough accidents to justify.
Councillor Reg Stewart has described the stretch as potentially fatal, high banks on either side of the road on Keysford Lane leaving less room for manoeuvre.