A FATAL crash involving a motorcyclist near York was caused mainly by the rider's speed, a coroner has ruled.

Self-employed builder Alan Wilkinson was killed last August Bank Holiday when his Honda bike hit the rear of a car turning into The Sidings restaurant, in Station Lane, Shipton-by-Beningbrough.

An inquest heard that police investigators concluded Mr Wilkinson, 62, had braked so heavily on rounding a bend in the road that his rear wheel came off the ground. He was thrown off his machine and crushed between it and the car.

Konstantitos Gongos, who was driving from Newton-on-Ouse to the restaurant, told the inquest yesterday at County Hall, Northallerton, that when he arrived a car coming from the opposite direction flashed its headlights signalling him to turn right into the entrance.

Mr Gongos said he checked his mirrors and used his indicator but heard a bang as he began to turn.

Marilyn Keddie, who was in the other car, said the motorcycle just appeared round the bend.

She told coroner Michael Oakley: "It happened so quickly that I wondered where he had come from."

Another motorist, Alan Bowes, said he was overtaken safely by the motorcycle, which was being ridden professionally, but he was startled by the noise, and his impression was that it went into the bend too fast.

Mr Wilkinson, of Brecksfield, Skelton, died from multiple injuries. A post-mortem revealed half the legal amount of alcohol in his blood but Mr Oakley said: "I do not think there is a lot of evidence that alcohol played a part in the accident.'' He said although there had been mild criticism of Mr Gongos by investigators, had Mr Wilkinson been riding at the speed limit or below he would have been able to stop. He recorded a verdict of accidental death.

The Press reported last summer how Mr Wilkinson's accident was just one of five crashes involving motorbikes in North Yorkshire in one day during last summer's August Bank Holiday.

Four other bikers were either seriously injured or injured in the other accidents, which included one near Helmsley and two near Harrogate.

Deputy Chief Constable Adam Briggs, of North Yorkshire Police, hit out after the crashes and another fatal accident over the weekend. He said the holiday had been marred by the number of casualties on the roads, which had brought grief and tragedy to loved ones. He said: "Drivers and riders must take responsibility for their actions if these appalling statistics are to be reversed."