Dad's death near Sheffield was 'unfortunate accident', coroner rules

Christopher Booker was riding a Yamaha YZ250 off-road motorbike along Ellisons Road, Killamarsh, at around 1.45am on March 14 last year when he collided with a stationary HGV.

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The 32-year-old, who was an engineer machinist, suffered multiple injuries and was taken to Sheffield’s Northern General Hospital but sadly died a short time later.

On Monday, Chesterfield Coroner’s Court heard Mr Booker, of Rotherham Road, Killamarsh, had been out drinking with friends on March 13 and was more than three times over the legal drink-drive limit when the crash happened.

PC Matthew Lacey, a forensic collision investigator with Derbyshire Constabulary, told the inquest that toxicology tests showed Mr Booker had 249 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 80 milligrams.

Mr Lacey said the collision happened because Mr Booker was ‘significantly impaired’ by alcohol.

He said the bike – which was only meant to be ridden off-road – had ‘unsuitable’ tyres and suspension and did not have lighting.

PC Lacey added that Mr Booker – who was not wearing a helmet at the time of the collision – had only purchased the bike just hours before the incident.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, coroner Emma Serrano said: “Evidence from Mr Booker’s ex-partner suggests he was making plans to see his son that weekend so there’s no suggestion he intended to take his own life.

“There’s no suggestion this was anything but an unfortunate accident.”

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