A teen was killed while riding his over-powered e-bike - which could reach speeds of up to 70mph - after he smashed into a pole. Jamie Michael Jones was riding his motorised bicycle on a cycle path by the B5441 in Sealand, Flintshire, when he veered off the cycleway and hit a telegraph pole on December 12, 2021.
North Wales Live reported that the electrically assisted pedal cycle ridden by the 17-year-old at the time was a non-road legal replica with an 8000w motor capable of reaching speeds of over 70mph. In the UK, electric bicycles must not exceed 250w and cannot travel over 15.5mph in order for them to be road legal.
Forensic collision investigator Gordon Saynor told an inquest held at Ruthin County Hall on March 29 that the power output of the e-bike meant that it should have been classified as a motorcycle and should not have been ridden without a licence. Even so, travel information taken from mobile map updates from Jamie's phone showed he had been travelling at an average speed of 26mph at the time. You can get more local news and other story updates straight to your inbox by subscribing to our newsletters here.
The crash happened at 4:55pm and was partially captured on the CCTV system of a nearby industrial yard which showed there was no third party involvement in the crash. Paramedics were called to the scene while a bystander performed CPR on Jamie. He was said to have shown few signs of external injuries, apart from a grazed head, but was pronounced dead at the ED of the Countess of Chester Hospital at 6:03pm despite the best efforts of paramedics en route.
The court heard how Jamie's death had left a "massive unexplainable hole" in his family. The teen was the youngest of three and his mother and two sisters attended the inquest hearing. Mum Jane Clutton told the court that her son was "well-mannered, well-known and well-respected" and that he "had time for everyone".
Glan Clwyd pathologist Dr Mark Atkinson carried out a post mortem and gave the medical cause of death as trauma to the abdomen and thorax.
Forensic vehicle examiner Gary Roberts examined the e-bike following the crash and told the inquest that he found "no evidence of any pre-impact defects that would have contributed to a loss of control." 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".
He also found that the rear brake was faulty and the inquest heard that Jamie was aware of this when he purchased the bike not long before the crash. Even so, there were "no marks on the tyres consistent with lock-up or loss of control", according to Mr Roberts, nor any brake marks on the cycle path itself that could be conclusively attributed to Jamie's bike, so this was not deemed a factor in the crash.
Mr Saynor ruled out all environmental factors as possible causes for the crash. Toxicology results showed no alcohol or drugs in Jamie's system at the time of his death and this was also ruled out as a contributory factor. Ultimately, Mr Saynor said he was "unable to provide an explanation as to why Jamie left the cycle path onto the grass verge" where he struck the telegraph pole.
Kate Sutherland, assistant coroner for North Wales east and central, recorded a conclusion of accidental death.
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