A motorbike driver has told an inquest it was a freak accident when his bike struck and killed a spectator last year.
Bruce Honore died after he was hit by a runaway motorbike at a motocross event in Cambridge. Photo: Supplied
A motorbike driver has told an inquest it was a freak accident when his bike struck and killed a spectator last year.
Bruce Honore, 68, was standing on a grass strip between two motocross tracks cheering on his grandson at the Cambridge Motorcycle club when tragedy struck.
On the main track behind him, Aaron Jones was rounding a corner when he fell off his bike. He hit the fence, but the bike flew over it and struck Mr Honore in the back of the head.
He died at the scene, and his wife, who was standing next to him, was seriously injured.
An inquest into Mr Honore's death began in the Hamilton District Court today.
Mr Jones told the court his bike had no problems that day, as he had fixed an earlier issue with the throttle.
The 20-year-old said he could not explain what went wrong, it was just a freak thing.
"I don't think I could have done anything different in order to prevent what happened."
Bruce Parks was also watching his grandchildren when the bike came over the fence.
"I heard a noise, I would describe it as a impact noise, I saw something out of the corner of my eye and then I was on the ground."
Mr Parks got emotional on the stand as he recalled what happened that day.
"My daughter told me stay on the ground, I felt okay, my shoulder was sore, but it was another 10 to 15 minutes before I realised how serious the two people beside me were hurt.
"I've stood in that location over a dozen times and nothing has ever happened like that before - it was a freak event."
Senior Constable Jeremy Newell said operational tests were carried out on the bike but no faults were found. It was also established that excessive speed was not a factor of the crash.
The Cambridge Motorcycle Club said it has made changes to the track, including lowering and widening the corner and installing a higher fence so the same thing doesn't happen again.
Mr Honore's wife, who was beside him, was taken to Waikato Hospital in a serious condition, but was discharged a week later.
Earlier, Senior Constable Jeremy Newell told the inquest Mr Honore was standing between two tracks on a strip of grass when he was struck by the bike from behind.
He said the 20-year-old driver of the bike accelerated up a hill and was turning his bike when it hit a berm.
"The driver came off the bike and landed on the track, but the bike continued straight over the berm, over a fence and into the spectators."
Thirteen people are expected to give evidence at the inquest before Coroner Gordan Matenga in the Hamilton District Court.
