Landlord dies days after passing motorcycle test

A popular pub landlord died just four days after passing his motorcycle test, an inquest heard.

Carl Picken, who used to run The Railway Inn, in Oldbury, smashed his bike into a BMW last July, just outside his pub. He was travelling at 50mph on the 30mph Bromford Road at the time.

Witnesses said how they saw the father-of-seven skidding on his front wheel towards the car, which was being driven by Andrew Clift, of Inkberrow Road, Halesowen.

Mr Clift, aged 32, was turning right out of Credenda Road, where he worked, at around 5.30pm on July 10 last year. His police statement was read out at the inquest, which took place at Smethwick Council House yesterday.

He said he did not see or hear the 1,000cc Suzuki bike coming towards him.

PC Mark Dixon, the police collision investigator said the smash had been caught on CCTV cameras at the nearby Sandwell and Dudley train station.

"The driver of the BMW can been seen at the junction looking both ways," he said.

"The BMW is almost clear of the first lane when the collision happens.

"Immediately prior the motorbike is travelling on its front wheel, with the back wheel in the air."

He said that he used the footage to calculate the bike's average speed, which was 51mph.

Black Country coroner Robin Balmain recorded a verdict that Mr Picken, aged 41, of Cuthbert Road, Winson Green, Birmingham, had died as a result of a road traffic collision.

He said: "The circumstances are absolutely clear because they are largely revealed on CCTV.

"Mr Picken had left his pub and turned left on to Bromford Road and over a short distance he clearly accelerated the bike at quite a high speed.

"The reason that he had to brake his vehicle was that a car turned right. I am satisfied that the driver did not see him."

After the inquest, Mr Picken's widow Katherine said: "My husband passed his test on the Monday before he died.

"He knew about bikes, he grew up riding them, but he had to get a car when we had a family so he had to retake his test.

"He has seven children, the youngest is three and she still asks about him. It's unbearable."

Mrs Picken left the pub after his death and has since moved to London.