A motorcyclist who was killed in a head-on crash on Clacton seafront has been described as ‘one a million’ by his family.
Ronnie Sheehan, 36, died at the scene of the crash on Marine Parade East on March 22.
An inquest held today at the Essex Coroners’ court in Chelmsford into his death heard Mr Sheehan had swapped bikes with a friend during an evening at popular biker haunt, Fossils Cafe.
• Tributes paid to ‘dearly loved’ husband, father, brother and son
• Hundreds of bikers ride out in Ronnie’s memory
While on a ride, the borrowed Kawasaki motorbike he was on collided with a Vauxhall Combo panel van travelling in the opposite direction at around 7.50pm.
Mr Sheehan was thrown onto the windscreen then over the van, which stopped 33 metres after the impact.
A post-mortem examination concluded Mr Sheehan died of multiple injuries.
Pc James Griffin, part of the Essex Police forensic collision investigation unit, said there were no defects with the road or with either vehicle – both of which burst into flames after the crash.
He told the inquest: “The motorcycle was in the opposite lane and struck the van head on. He may have been slowing or braking.
“The van shows signs of substantial braking, but not until after the impact.
“There is insufficient evidence to calculate accurately the speed of either vehicle.
“But a witness statement says the motorcycle was travelling at high speed when it hit the van.
“Mr Sheehan rode on the wrong side of the road directly into the van’s path.”
Pc Griffin said it is not known at what point each motorist saw each other, but said Mr Sheehan may have become lost in the background light, while the van driver would not have been expecting someone approaching in his lane.
Several family members attended the court hearing, including his wife, eldest son, brother, sister, mother and grandparents.
Essex senior coroner Caroline Beasley-Murray, who during the hearing described Mr Sheehan as “an experienced motorcyclist”, concluded his death was an accident.
She added: “What a tragic accident. He was clearly so much loved, seeing you all here today, and I again express the court’s sympathy. We hope you will be able to think of the happy memories.”
Speaking after the inquest, his wife Emma speaking on behalf of Mr Sheehan’s family thanked a woman who stopped to give CPR at the scene.
Talking about Ronnie she added: “He was a loving and caring dad and husband.
“Everybody loved him. There was never a bad word said about Ronnie.
“He was one in a million.”
The van driver was arrested at the time of the crash but later released without charge.
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