Motorcyclist died of traumatic head and spinal injuries

Police believe Richard Fisher, aged 37, had been drinking before he crashed into a lamppost in Holloway Bank, West Bromwich, on May 26. Moments before he was spotted travelling at ‘high speed’ by another motorist, Arum Byrim, who then witnessed the collision and called 999.

Paramedics found Mr Fisher, from Bilston, in cardiac arrest on arrival and he died hours later in hospital, Black Country Coroner’s Court was told. Alex Rippon, from West Midlands Police’s collision investigation unit, told Black Country Coroner’s Court: “Mr Byrim heard the sound of a motorbike coming up behind him and he described the sound as ‘powerful and as though it was travelling very fast’.

“He looked in his rear view mirror and saw the headlights of a motorbike.

“He could see the motorbike travelling quickly and the rider was trying to control the bike as it was shaking from side to side.

“There was a slight bend in the road and a parked car at the side. He described seeing the motorcycle avoiding colliding with the parked car at the bend but the motorcyclist had lost control and hit the lamppost and BT junction box.”

CCTV footage from two nearby businesses captured a ‘fast moving object’ travelling along the road at the time of the crash, at 23.20pm. But police could not confirm if that vehicle was Mr Fisher’s motorbike, as the object appeared blurry on film.

PC Brand, from Central Motorway Police Group, attended the scene of the crash and smelt liquor in the air, Mr Rippon told the court. PC Brand also found a ‘small quantity of cannabis’ in Mr Fisher’s possession.

Mr Rippon said: "Mr Fisher had a blood transfusion before he died and a sample wasn't taken beforehand so we haven't got any toxicity evidence.

"However PC Brand smelt liquor in the air, when he initially attended, coming from Mr Fisher. He states he was a distance of two metres away from Mr Fisher."

He continued: "It appears from the evidence that Mr Fisher had consumed alcohol. It was likely that he was possibly under the influence and driving his motorcycle at higher speed than other vehicles on the road at the time.

"It appears he has lost control of the motorcycle on the bend and hit the junction box."

Assistant Coroner Emma Serrano found that Mr Fisher’s cause of death was traumatic head and spinal injuries.

She said: “My conclusion is a short form conclusion of a road traffic accident. It is clear to me this was an unfortunate accident.”

At an earlier inquest hearing, Mr Fisher’s family said in a statement: “Richard was a loving son, father, nephew and great friend who was always smiling.

“He will be very sadly missed.”