Death crash biker 'flew through air'

Carpet fitter Paul Fry, 38, of Collingwood Close, was killed when his powerful 900cc Honda bike crashed at the entrance to the Three Ponds Holiday Park on the A27 at South Heighton, on August 11.

An inquest at Eastbourne on Tuesday heard how the motorbike and Mr Fry flew into the air as they hit the side of the Ford Focus. He died at the scene from multiple injuries.

Some motorists who were overtaken by Mr Fry, a single man, as he travelled towards the crash site from Lewes, estimated he was travelling at speeds in excess of 80mph.

Witness Glendon Toms, from Hailsham, described how the bike 'elbowed' and weaved its way through the traffic.

However, most drivers said that Mr Fry appeared to be in control of his bike, despite crossing unbroken white lines to pass cars.

In a statement read out in court witness Colin Bartholomew, from Middlesex, told how he saw the motorcycle 'fly through the air' and land in the middle of the road, throwing its rider into the entrance of the park.

Dorota Paluch, from London, was a passenger in the car which was hit. She and her partner John Edwards, who was driving, were visiting the park for the weekend and were returning from a day at the beach.

As they approached from Newhaven the road was clear and the car turned right into the entrance, she said.

It was then the bike appeared. She said: 'I looked to my left and saw a large red bike with a rider in leathers on the grass verge'. It had 'come from nowhere' and looked out of control.

'There was a massive bang and the car spun around,' she added.

Mr Edwards echoed her account and said he had not seen the bike when he turned the car.

A police crash investigation report stated skid marks showed Mr Fry had braked when he saw the car. This had locked his back wheel, causing the bike to veer in a straight line on to the grass verge and hit the car.

Police were unable to determine how fast the bike was travelling.

Verdict: accidental death.