Ashley Cron died of severe head injuries in Tatchbury Lane bike crash, Winchester Coroners’ Court told

A FATHER of five who crashed his bike in the dark after drinking at a family party died instantly of severe head injuries, an inquest has heard.

Granite technician Ashley Cron (37) was described by relatives as a “happy-go-lucky man who was always smiling” at an inquest into his death at Winchester Coroners’ Court.

Mr Cron had been riding along Tatchbury Lane in Netley Marsh around 3am on 12th November last year when his bike left the road at around 20mph and crashed into a drainage ditch. He suffered a fractured skull and died instantly, the inquest heard.

He was on his way back home from a birthday party for his aunt Vicky Goulding at the Compass Inn, where she is the landlady, at the time of the crash.

Reading a witness statement from Ms Goulding, coroner Christopher Wilkinson said: “Ash arrived at the pub on his own at about 11pm (on 11th November). He appeared in good spirits and was talking to everyone. He was wearing shorts – his usual clothing – and a work hoodie. There was nothing out of the ordinary and most of the night Ash was giving me cuddles. I didn’t have any concerns about Ash that evening.”

The inquest heard Ash was drinking beer at the party and had possibly been drinking elsewhere before his arrival. At around 2.30am on 12th November, Ash consumed another half pint of beer before leaving the pub on his bike.

Ms Goulding said she walked with Ash to his bike – making sure his phone was charged, he had his keys and insisting he rode home with his bike light on.

“Ash said he wouldn’t have missed my birthday party for anything and that he loved me, before leaving,” Ms Goulding said.

At around 7.45am the next day a passenger in a car travelling along Tatchbury Lane reported seeing a bike in the ditch.

When the driver and passenger stopped to investigate they found Mr Cron’s body next to the bike and alerted the authorities.

Police crash investigator Simon Lewis told the court the road would have been “very dark” when Mr Cron was riding down it. He also said Mr Cron’s ability to ride was “severely impaired” by alcohol, which was 3.4 times the legal driving limit, according to a post-mortem report.

The inquest heard there was no evidence Mr Cron’s bike had been struck before leaving the highway, although it could not be ruled out that he was dazzled by a passing vehicle or nearby street lamp.

Mr Lewis said he believed Mr Cron’s bike light was on at the time of the crash but that it was too dim for the conditions and not angled properly to illuminate the road ahead.

He added that Mr Cron would have been travelling at around 20mph when he veered off the road in a straight line over a gravel driveway before crashing into the ditch. The inquest heard the crash caused Mr Cron to flip over the handlebars and land on his head.

The coroner reassured the family Mr Cron’s death would have been instant and there was no suggestion he lingered after the crash.

Recording a verdict of accidental death and offering his condolences to the family, Mr Wilkinson said: “The fact remains that Ash has been taken from you as a family, and nothing can reverse that evening or bring him back to his children.”