Two inquests cite speed factor

Queen’s Coroner Margaret
Ramsay-Hale conducted inquests last Thursday into the deaths of Donald Green
and Kris Anderson, with the same jury hearing both matters.

The jury returned verdicts of death
by misadventure after hearing the circumstances in which each man suffered
fatal head injuries. Mr. Green, 42, was riding a motorcycle without a helmet.
Mr. Anderson, 30, was not wearing a seatbelt. Both were exceeding the speed
limit by more than 30mph.

Accident reconstructionist Vincent
Walters gave evidence in both inquests.

Kris Carson Anderson, also known as
Bella, was found at the scene of a one-car accident near the Blow Holes in East
End in the early hours of 6 February, 2008.

The coroner read a statement by
Roydell Connor, who lives in the area, a 50-mph zone.  Mr. Connor said he got up for a glass of
water around 2.20am. As he went back to bed, he heard an engine sound “like
roaring thunder”. Then he saw a flickering headlight. When he opened his door
he did not hear anyone, but did hear music. He called 911, then was joined by
neighbours as he searched. One of his neighbours found Mr. Anderson lying some
distance from his vehicle.

Mr. Walters said he measured tyre
marks and estimated the vehicle’s speed to be 87mph. He concluded that Mr.
Anderson was negotiating a slight bend at excessive speed. When he began losing
control he over steered to keep on course and went off the road. The vehicle
hit a utility pole and “tumbled” to its final resting point. The vehicle’s
windscreen was completely missing.

Investigating officer Daniel Spence
said the driver was not wearing a seat belt and was catapulted from the
vehicle.

Government pathologist Shavana
Jyoti said the injuries of skull and pelvic fractures were consistent with
being ejected from a moving vehicle onto the ironshore. A blood/alcohol test
showed a reading of 0.169, which exceeds the legal limit of 0.100.

Mr. Green’s death occurred around
1.30pm on 5 December, 2007 in the vicinity of his home on Fern Circle, George
Town. Marva Scott, secretary to the Liquor Licensing Board, confirmed that Mr.
Green, the liquor licensing Inspector, came to work that morning and was in the
office when she left for lunch.

Clive Jackson said he was sitting
in his car in his driveway listening to the end of a radio programme when he
saw a white thing flash by in his rear view mirror. Then he heard a crashing
sound. He got out to look and saw a motorbike on one side of the road and a man
lying in the road. Because of the damage to the man’s face, he did not
recognise him, but realised later it was Mr. Green, whom he knew as his
neighbour.

Mr. Walters said he measured skid
marks and concluded that when Mr. Green applied the rear brake it did not slow
him down sufficiently. When he applied the front brake, the abrupt reduction in
speed caused his unrestrained body to be ejected from the motorcycle. He went
airborne and collided with a cement wall, then kept going and was in impact
with a garbage bin before coming to rest.

Mr. Walters did not see any helmet
at the scene but said one was recovered from inside Mr. Green’s house. He
measured skid marks and calculated the motorcycle’s speed as 59.5mph. The speed
limit in the area is 25mph.