A TEENAGE motorcylist died after chasing after a van which cut him up.

Cocaine may also have played a part in the crash which killed Carl Cocks, an inquest heard.

Mr Cocks, aged 19, of Lansdowne Close, Malvern, suffered multiple injuries and died after his motorcycle hit two cars on the B4424 Old Hills Road at Callow End, near Worcester.

The inquest held yesterday heard he was returning to Malvern from Worcester with fellow motorcylists Ross McMurray and Mark Jones at about 4.40pm on Saturday, June 26.

The trio were behind a red VW transporter van and a Red Audi A4, driven by Martin Court.

The riders said as Mr Court slowed to turn into his driveway he was overtaken by the red VW van and Mr Cocks’s bike. They both sped down the road to a right hand bend.

Worcestershire coroner Geraint Williams said: “Mr Cocks started to overtake a VW van, that van also performed an overtaking manoeuvre and doubtless cut up Mr Cocks.

“The van drove off and Mr Cocks went after it, I suspect to remonstrate with the driver.

“He chose to overtake that van in a place where it was foolish to attempt an overtaking manoeuvre and completed an unsafe crossing of an unbroken white line and he was unfortunate on the bend to meet two cars.”

Despite efforts by the emergency services, Mr Cocks was pronounced dead at the scene at 5.22pm. A toxicology report showed Mr Cocks had no drugs or alcohol in his blood. However, the tests showed he had previously used cocaine and cannabis.

Mr Williams said cocaine was in his urine but not his blood, which indicated he was not suffering from euphoric effects but may have been in the “come down” stage which would have affected his judgement and ability to control his motorbike.

The inquest heard from Joanne Flavell, who was driving a black Astra and broke her foot in four places in the crash. She said: “He just appeared from nowhere.

“He was in the middle of the road coming straight for me.

“I could see he had lost control.

“He was trying to brake, his left leg was flailing out like he was trying to regain control.

“He was just heading straight for me and just hit me.”

Peter Watts, the van driver, said he did not see the three motorcyclists and was unaware of the crash at the time.

He came forward after seeing a police appeal for information.

Mr Watts denied that he overtook in a fast and aggressive manner, as described by other witnesses. However, he accepted that he may not have checked his mirrors.

Mr Williams described him as honest, but said: “His overtaking manoeuvre was not a sensible one and not carried out in a proper manner.

“I doubt very much if he did check his wing mirrors at all.”

Mr Williams recorded a verdict of accidental death.