Motorcyclist killed after "aggressively" overtaking cars on A49 near Hereford (From Hereford Times)

Motorcyclist killed after "aggressively" overtaking cars on A49 near Hereford

2:45pm Wednesday 13th June 2012 in News

A MOTORCYCLIST was killed after driving up to 80 miles an hour on a busy stretch of road near Hereford, an inquest heard today.

Rick Walford came off his black Suzuki motorbike on the A49 at Callow last July.

The hearing was told Mr Walford, aged 38, from Clyro, “aggressively” overtook a number of cars before he was in collision with three oncoming vehicles.

David Gibbons, who was driving a blue Vauxhall Vectra, said he could do nothing to avoid the accident.

“He was driving too fast and wore dark clothes which did not help me to see him,” he said.

It was unclear as to how fast Mr Walford was actaully going when he came off his motorbike, but witness Jamie Lambert said that he was doing "around 80mph" when he was overtaken by the Suzuki.

The inquest also heard that traces of cocaine was found in Mr Walford's body, but it was unclear as to whether that impaired his driving ability.

Deputy coroner Roland Wooderson recorded a verdict of accidental death.

More in tomorrow's Hereford Times.