A dad-of-two died after losing control of his moped and crashing into a kerb, an inquest has heard. Thomas Nicholson, 32, had spent the day drinking at a friend's christening and was three times over the drink drive limit, the hearing was told.
In a documentary inquest at Rochdale Coroner's Court, coroner Matthew Cox read a statement by Mr Nicholson's partner of five years, Colleen De Nysschen. Ms De Nysschen said that the pair had known each other for several years before getting into a relationship and had moved into a home in Stubbins in 2019, following the birth of their daughter.
Mr Nicholson also had a son from a previous relationship and worked at Marshalls Quarry in Ramsbottom, Ms De Nysschen confirmed. In February 2021, he passed his motorcycle test and bought a moped to help him get to and from work.
READ MORE : Tragic baby with meningitis was neglected by hospital trust after 'individual and systemic failures'
Around eight months later, on October 17, Mr Nicholson and Ms De Nysschen were invited to a christening as godparents. During a reception at Elton Liberal Club, Mr Nicholson drank between four and five pints of lager, along with some whisky.
The pair later went to Mr Nicholson's mum's house in Bury Street but Mr Nicholson left to go to his brother's, where he carried on drinking. At some point in the evening, Mr Nicholson drove his moped to his brother's house, before eventually leaving at 10.30pm.
Evidence provided by PC Keenan of Greater Manchester Police (GMP) stated that Mr Nicholson rode his moped up Bolton Road West towards Bridge Street. At the junction with Market Place, he lost control and clipped a kerb, before hitting his head and being knocked unconscious. Mr Nicholson was taken to Salford Royal Hospital after being spotted by an off-duty paramedic but was pronounced dead at 11.50pm.
"It is highly likely he lost control due to rider error, exacerbated by intoxication," PC Keenan's statement said. He also said that Mr Nicholson was three times over the legal drink drive limit.
A toxicology report confirmed that Mr Nicholson had high levels of alcohol in his system. Following a post mortem, the cause of Mr Nicholson's death was recorded as an 'intra-abdominal haemorrhage, due to liver and kidney lacerations, due to a road traffic collision'.
Mr Cox reached a coronial conclusion of 'road traffic collision'.
