A father-of-three died in a motorcycle crash on a "dangerous road". Ashley James Long, 32, was on his way to visit his girlfriend in Sturminster Newton in north Dorset when he was involved in a fatal collision. An inquest into his death held in Bournemouth on October 15 heard that Ashley lived in Brighton with his family and worked as a labourer at the time of his death, often using his motorcycle to travel for work.
He would visit his partner every other weekend. His mother, Linda Cannon, said Ashley was a “great father” with an “amazing sense of humour”. “Family was important to him,” she said.
“He was the best son any mother could ask for and I miss him dearly.” Dorset Coroner's Court heard he was familiar with the route to his girlfriend's home. However, on February 23 at around 5.
20pm emergency services were called to Horton Road in Ashley Heath after reports of a crash between a black Kawaski and a Vauxhall Grandland. PC Burt told the court in a statement that, as pedestrian traffic lights turned from red to green, Ashley overtook traffic and narrowly missed oncoming vehicles. The driver of the Vauxhall signalled to turn right into the One Stop but as Ashley returned to the correct side of the carriageway, he hit the car and was unseated from his motorbike.
David Sharma, the driver of the Vauxhall, told the court that he was driving to a nearby caravan park but decided to stop at the shop for groceries. He described hearing an explosion and did not know .
