Father killed after being thrown 20ft into the air in motorbike crash
A father of two died after his powerful motorbike hit a 4x4 on a country lane, throwing him 20ft into the air.
Tom Zmiko had passed his motorcycle test just some six months before the Kawasaki ZX 600cc collided with a Toyota Land Cruiser in Penkridge, an inquest heard.
The 26-year-old, from Oaks Drive, Featherstone, was airlifted to hospital with a traumatic brain injury and died a day later.
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Staffordshire South coroner Andrew Haigh concluded that the death was a 'tragic accident'.
The hearing at Cannock Coroner's Court heard that witnesses believed Mr Zmiko was travelling at speed when he lost control in Teddesley Road and drove into the path of the oncoming car at around 5.40pm on Easter Monday.
Richard Thompson, of Walton-on-the-Hill, Stafford, who was driving the Toyota, said he 'had no time to react' as the crash happened in a 'split second'.
He was being followed home from work by his colleague Anthony Lewis, of Acton Trussell, who witnessed the collision. He told the court he saw the motorbike approach and estimated it was travelling at 80mph.
Pc Matthew Lovatt told the court that Mr Zmiko was 'familiar' with the road, outside Bridge Cottage. In a statement, Mr Lovatt said he had been told by a witness who was in a field 50 yards away, who had raced motorcycles in the past, that he estimated Mr Zmiko's speed at around 80mph before he heard 'an almighty bang'.
But Pc Carl Kelsall, from Staffordshire Police Collision Investigation Unit, said it was his professional opinion that Mr Zmiko was not travelling at 80mph on impact though he could not give an accurate speed. He said Mr Zmiko had braked, causing the bike to 'sit up' .
Mr Haigh, who gave an accidental death verdict, said: "Although 'a bit fast' for the circumstance he found himself in, on the bend, he has braked which has caused the bike to sit up."
He added: "Tom was only 26, he passed his test in October to ride larger bikes and Tom had ridden that bike regularly but his experience may have been limited."
His mother, Glynis Zmiko said: "Tom was a conscientious rider and driver. He would have been careful because of his family."
Mr Zmiko was an organ donor and his death helped five people.
