Teenage boy, 17, was killed on his high-powered electric bike when he crashed into a wooden telegraph pole at 26mph just four days after getting the vehicle, inquest hears
- Jamie Jones, 17, was killed just four days after buying the e-bike
- Experts say the bike was illegal to ride without a license as it had a 70mph speed
A 17-yera-old boy was tragically killed when he collided with a wooden telegraph pole while riding an e-bike he had bought four days earlier, an inquest has heard.
Jamie Jones was riding at 26mph along a cycle path on the B5441 in Sealand Road, Flintshire when the crash occurred at 4.55pm on December 12, 2021, Ruthin coroner’s office was told.
CCTV near an industrial yard had captured the moment Jamie’s bike veered from the path and into the pole, but investigators could not find a reason for the crash.
Jamie was taken to hospital but was found to have already suffered cardiac arrest and could not be saved.
Experts said that the bike he owned was illegal to ride without a license as it had a max speed of around 70mph.
Jamie Jones (pictured above) died after veering off a cycle path and into a telegraph pole while riding his electric bike
Advanced forensic examiner Gary Roberts, of North Wales Police, inspected the bike after the crash and found it was replica of a Stealth Bomber model, but without identification plates.
Mr Roberts said the bike had an 8,000 watt battery and was illegal to ride without a valid licence and third party insurance.
For an electric bicycle to be legal in the UK, its power output must not exceed 250 watts.
Mr Roberts found the bike’s rear brakes were faulty.
However, he said that this should not have played a part in the crash and there were not other mechanical defects.
He said: ‘Jamie had no reason to brake at that time.’
However, he described the braking system, which was similar to that of a normal mountain bike, as ‘under-engineered for a bike of this performance’.
The rear brake was also faulty, the examiner found.
And the inquest heard that Jamie was aware of this when he purchased the bike not long before the crash, but as there were ‘no marks on the tyres consistent with lock-up or loss of control’, according to Mr Roberts, or any brake marks on the cycle path itself that could be conclusively attributed to Jamie’s bike, this was not deemed a factor in the crash.
The teen was riding at 26mph along a cycle path on the B5441 in Sealand Road, Flintshire when the crash occurred at 4.55pm on December 12, 2021, Ruthin coroner’s office was told
Meanwhile, collision investigator Gordon Saynor said the weather at the time of the crash was fine and dry with clear visibility and a good road surface.
He told the hearing there was no evidence of any third party involvement and no forensic evidence to what caused the collision.
Mr Saynor said tracking data from Jamie’s phone estimated he was travelling at around 26mph at the time of the crash.
A pathologist found Jamie’s death was caused by massive internal blood loss caused by trauma to the abdomen and thorax.
Toxicology result showed there was no evidence of drugs or alcohol in his system.
Coroner Kate Sutherland recorded a conclusion of accidental death.
Before the paramedics arrived at the scene, a bystander performed chest compressions on the 17-year-old, who showed few signs of external injuries apart from a grazed head.
An ambulance arrived thereafter and despite the best efforts of paramedics, he was pronounced dead at the Countess of Chester Hospital at 6:03pm.
Jamie’s mother Jane Clutton said that his tragic death has left a ‘massive unexplainable hole’ in the family.
She continued to say that he was a ‘very well mannered, well known and well respected’ young man who was ‘incredibly bright and talented individual,’ adding: ‘His death has left a massive hole in our family.’
The 17-year-old was the youngest of three and his two sisters were also present at the inquest.
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