Inquest: teen motorcyclist who died on the A4 near Bristol

Alex Thompson died when his motorbike collided with a car turning across the carriageway on the A4 on June 22, 2023.

The 18-year-old had been heading eastbound towards Hicks Gate Roundabout to pick up the keys for his new flat on Keynsham High Street but was travelling in excess of the speed limit and would not have been visible to the car, an inquest into his death heard on September 9, 2024.

Jo Thompson, Alex’s mother, said in a statement: “Our family has been left heartbroken by the death of our beautiful young Alex who was taken from us in the prime of his life. Alex was kind, caring, considerate and loved by everyone who knew him.

“We have been left devastated by this tragedy, particularly as it happened at a stage in his life when he was at his happiest. Alex had everything to live for and was looking forward to the next stage in his life before the collision.

“Alex was excited about the future and was on his way to collect the keys of the new flat he was moving into. His death is made even more painful in that it occurred at the point, at just 18 years old, where he was on the threshold of enjoying his journey as a young adult. 

“Alex will never be forgotten. Everyone that has ever loved him will still love him forever and everything he has taught us too as a son and brother.”

She added: “We are extremely grateful for the support we have received as a family from not only people in our local community from further afield and from all walks of life where Alex made a positive impact.

“This support has been an immense emotional help to us since the tragedy and will continue to be so in the future as we continue to struggle to come to terms with everything that has happened.”

“Alex will never be forgotten.” (Image: Family handout)

An inquest at Avon Coroner’s Court which concluded on September 9 was packed with Alex’s friends, family, and loved ones.

Delivering her findings, assistant coroner Debbie Rookes said: “Alex Thompson died on the 22 June 2023 on the A4/Bath Road, Hicks Gate, Bristol.

“Mr Thompson was riding his motorcycle along the A4/Bath Road towards the Hicks Gate roundabout when he collided with a motor vehicle that had turned right across the central reservation and across the path of Mr Thompson.

“Mr Thompson was travelling in excess of the speed limit and he was not visible to the driver of the motor vehicle at the time the decision was taken by the driver to make the manoeuvre.”

Alex lived in Keynsham and worked in asbestos removal. There was no evidence of Alex being under the influence of any drink or drugs at the time of the crash.

The weather on the day was described as “fine.”

Ms Rookes said: “It was due to the speed that Alex was travelling that he or [the driver of the car] was unable to avoid the collision.”

Witness statements consistently described Alex travelling fast before the crash, at a speed one witness with experience of riding motorbikes described as “madness.”

Another witness saw him do a wheelie on his red Yamaha Thundercat 600cc motorcycle as he travelled along the road which has a speed limit of 40mph.

The speedometer of his motorbike, recovered after the crash, was stopped at 63mph.

Forensic collision investigator Andrew Griggs examined the speedometer under a microscope and said marks left in the glass screen by the speedometer needle suggested the bike had been travelling between 60 and 70mph at the time of the collision.

He added that Alex would have hard to see against the dark background caused by trees along the road.

He said that Alex wore a dark jacket and dark helmet, and his motorcycle did not have a headlight on as this was not required.

Ms Rookes said: “He was effectively camouflaged against his background as he exited the trees.”

The driver of a blue Vauxhall Crossland was sitting in a gap in the central reservation as instructed by her sat nav after she had gone the wrong way.

In a witness statement, she said she pulled away to cross the carriageway once she saw it was safe, intending to enter a lane on the other side.

In a witness statement, in which she said she was “devastated,” she said: “I saw cars but no motorbike.”

After pulling away, she said there was a bang and she lost consciousness briefly, before coming to on the other side of the carriageway.

One witness who went to see if she was alright said she was saying: “I just didn’t see him. I just didn’t see him.”

Another witness left their vehicle to run to where they had seen paramedics attending another incident to seek help.

Despite attempts to resuscitate him, Alex was pronounced dead at the scene.

His cause of death was recorded as chest injuries. The inquest heard that Alex would have lost consciousness rapidly.

Ms Rookes told the friends and family in attendance, it was clear Alex was a special person.

She said: “He was very much loved and very much missed.”