A MOTORCYCLIST from Meavy who died after colliding with a van turning from a side lane onto a busy road was doing around 100mph, an inquest in Plymouth has heard. Mark Harwood, 22, died after his Yamaha R6 went into the side of a Ford Transit joining the A386 on Roborough Down. Several witnesses estimated Mr Harwood?s speed at around 100mph, where the speed limit was 60mph, shortly before the accident at about 7pm on October 3. Van driver Kevin Quinn said he did not notice the motorbike when he pulled out of Golf Links Lane and he was only aware of some lights on the brow of a hill in the distance. But police collisions expert MPC Rodney Shephard said it was impossible to calculate exactly how fast the bike had been going. He added that Mr Quinn had a good field of vision and should have been able to see the motorbike approaching from the Plymouth direction, regardless of its speed, had he been pulling out normally, checking as he went. Coroner Nigel Meadows recorded a verdict of accidental death. Mr Harwood died 30 minutes after reaching Derriford Hospital from a fractured skull. Fellow rider Andrew Lee told the inquest he was doing 70mph to 80mph and Mr Harwood overtook doing ?at least a ton? (100mph.) Mr Lee faces prosecution over his riding that night. Elaine Smith, who was driving from Plymouth to Yelverton, said she was travelling at about 50mph when she was overtaken by two bikes, the first doing 70mph and the second 100mph.
