Editor's note: A previous version of this story included a picture, incorrectly captioned as Rupert Clarkson. The picture had been provided to us by a news agency and published in good faith. We apologise for any confusion or distress that this caused. (March 2024) 

A DROITWICH resident who was killed on a Cotswold road last year died after inexplicably veering across the road and crashing head on with a car, an inquest heard yesterday (Thursday).

Rupert Clarkson, of Lahn Drive, Droitwich, died on the B4081 Campden Road between Mickleton and Chipping Campden in October last year.

The 83-year-old was riding his KTM 390 Duke motorcycle at the time of the crash.

A forensic collision investigator for Gloucestershire Constabulary said the collision between Mr Clarkson's motorcycle and a black Toyota Auris occurred on a bend with central white lines.

The investigator concluded that the motorcycle and the car had impacted in the Chipping Campden bound lane on the entry to the bend.

The road conditions were dry with damp patches and there were no potholes or similar deficiencies on the road in the area. There were no braking marks at the scene due to both vehicles being fitted with anti-lock braking systems.

The reason why Mr Clarkson veered onto the wrong side of the road was not established.

Pathologist Dr Terry Jones said no alcohol or drugs were found at post mortem and that Mr Clarkson had suffered severe injuries to his chest, multiple rib fractures.

The doctor gave the cause of death as multiple injuries.

The area coroner for Gloucestershire Roland Wooderson said: “It’s clear that Mr Clarkson sadly died as a result of the injuries sustained in the collision. The investigator states that he travelled into the path of an oncoming vehicle."

The coroner’s conclusion was that the incident was a Road Traffic Collision.

A statement issued by Mr Clarkson’s family at the time of his death said: "Rupert absolutely loved riding his motorbike – it was a lifelong passion of his.

"He was part of two clubs that were close to his heart, the Worcester Motorcycle Club and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA).

"Every Sunday he would meet up with other riders and they would ride out together.  He had a huge amount of love for the clubs and his fellow riders. Rupert was a loving husband, father of two and grandfather to three children.

"He was a well-established mechanic back in the 1970s and 1980s around the Vale of Evesham, and he then moved onto Droitwich to start a garden machinery business with his son.

"His relaxing downtime was the love of gardening as he loved growing fuchsias with his wife. He always enjoyed spending time with his family, friends and dogs. Rupert will be missed dearly by all of his family and friends."