Coroner Andrew McKee hands down findings into death of Bradley James Jones

A Tasmanian coroner has lamented the “avoidable” nature of a collision involving a unlicensed motorbike rider who drove into the back of a parked prime mover while high.

A CORONER has released his findings into the death of a Northern Tasmanian man who was high on ice and cannabis and driving an unroadworthy motorcycle when he ran into the back of a prime mover.

Coroner Andrew McKee investigated the death of 24-year-old father of two Bradley James Jones.

Mr Jones died as a result of severe multiple traumas when his Honda CRF dirt bike collided with the back of a Kenworth prime mover parked on Lawson St, Mayfield on October 3, 2019

He held a Novice L2 car licence which was suspended due to non-payment of fines and he had never held a motorcycle licence.

The coroner said on the night of his death, Mr Jones visited a friend and they smoked cannabis for about two or three hours.

The friend was of the opinion Mr Jones was under the influence of a substance other than

cannabis and he saw an ice pipe in his backpack.

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He described Mr Jones’ behaviour that evening as “abnormal.”

Mr Jones left at 11.20pm on his unregistered motorbike without wearing any protective clothing or a helmet and without his headlights on.

While driving past another car, Mr Jones ultimately ran into the back of a parked prime mover and was later declared dead at the scene.

The coroner said the motorbike would have been classified as unroadworthy due to a number of defects and toxicology testing revealed the presence of cannabis and methylamphetamine in Mr Jones’ blood.

“Mr Jones is solely responsible for the collision between the motorcycle being ridden by himself and the prime mover,” Mr McKee wrote in his findings.

The coroner did not make any official recommendations, but did comment on the “avoidable” nature of the collision.

“This case is a further example of the consequences that flow from an individual choosing to drive, while unlicensed, an unregistered and unroadworthy motorcycle, while not wearing the appropriate protective apparel after consuming illicit substances,” he wrote.

“Members of the public were exposed to the aftermath of the collision when they rendered assistance to Mr Jones.

“This is yet another avoidable collision that exposed first responders, namely police officers and paramedics, to another fatal collision.”