A POLICE officer responsible for investigating road accidents became the victim of one when a Mercedes turned across his path as he rode his Yamaha motorcycle home at 70mph, an inquest heard last Thursday.

PC Glenn Robinson, 46, who had served for 16 years with North Yorkshire Police, was a member of a Skipton-based road policing unit.

Coroner Geoff Fell, sitting in Harrogate, recorded an accidental death verdict on the father of two teenagers.

His widow, Claire the couple had been married for 23 years - was in court to hear the evidence.

In a statement, she said her husband had learnt to drive as a teenager in the Army and was very careful''.

PC Robinson, who had completed an early-shift on July 27, had been riding his own bright yellow Yamaha to his home in Harrogate along the A59 road.

The inquest heard that at the junction with White Wall Lane, Kettlesing, Carol Packer, a ward clerk at a private hospital in Harrogate, turned her Mercedes right, across his path.

Mrs Packer was advised by her counsel Karanjit Singh not to give evidence, a move Mr Fell accepted after telling the court he appreciated she was subject to other proceedings elsewhere'.' Mr Fell said Mrs Packer told police she had begun to turn when she suddenly felt a bump''. After that things were a blur.

Witnesses told Mr Fell PC Robinson had overtaken two cars just before the collision at a speed estimated at between 60 and 70mph. But he had not been riding dangerously, just quickly.

Accident investigator PC David Taylor said it was possible PC Robinson had been doing 70mph although no accurate calculation could be made. But he would have had just 53 metres in which to react to the Mercedes' presence. He had braked to the point of wheel-lock.