A DRIVER broke down in tears as he described the tragic moment a motorcyclist crashed into his van.
Paul Woodrup had been travelling on the A166, which runs between Fridaythorpe and Wetwang, when the accident happened.
Sylvia Boyes, 59, of Wakefield, was travelling in the same direction as Mr Woodrup on Sunday, July 20.
She died at the scene from head injuries.
Hull Coroners' Court, where the inquest into Ms Boyes's death was held yesterday, heard Mr Woodrup describe how he had been turning into Lodge Farm to make a delivery.
He said: "I was well aware there was a bike behind me.
"I recall looking in the mirror before braking. The entrance is concealed, but I'm familiar with where it is.
"I was steadily braking, getting close to the junction, I got to a standstill, and then again looking in the mirror and the bike wasn't there and literally there was an impact."
Mr Woodrup said he indicated before he braked.
He said: "I've had a troubled time coming to terms with things myself.
"If I feel I was doing anything wrong, I would say so.
"What I can't get my head around is that I was so aware that the bike was there, I was being so careful.
"Hand on heart, I can say I wasn't braking erratically or after I should have been.
"I do genuinely feel I did everything I should have done.
"The bike seemed to be a long way back and I feel I was giving it every opportunity to see where I was going and what I was doing."
Ms Boyes had been out that day for a scenic ride with her partner Denis Fox and four friends.
Mr Fox did not see the accident as he was at the back of the group, but told the court she was a very experienced and safe rider.
Janet Bedford, of Leeds, was travelling behind Mr Woodrup and Ms Boyes and saw the crash.
She said: "The van clearly had its right indicator on, I had a clear view of the indicator.
"I could also see the van was braking as both brake lights were visible.
"The motorbike appeared right up close to the van, a position to where I do not think the van would be able to see it. Suddenly, the motorbike dived to the left.
"The motorcyclist collided at the rear left side of the van.
"The motorcyclist went flying into the air, possibly to the same height as the van."
PC Timothy Clark, who investigated the collision, said Ms Boyes had been driving too close to the van.
He said: "Ms Boyes failed to appreciate the vehicle ahead was slowing down, despite the indicators and brake lights, or having seen the van was slowing, she was too close to be able to react to avoid a collision.
"The collision occurred due to the actions, or inactions, of Ms Boyes."
Mr Woodrup's van was found to have several defects, but none of them would have contributed to the accident, the inquest was told.
Coroner Rosemary Baxter concluded Ms Boyes died as a result of an accident.
'If she could have stopped, she would have'SYLVIA Boyes was part of a group of five motorcyclists who were travelling west on the A166 from Withernsea back towards West Yorkshire when the accident happened.
Ms Boyes's partner of 20 years, Dennis Fox, told Hull Coroners' Court she was a skilled rider and said they rode about 3,000 miles together per year.
He said: "She was a very proficient rider who loved nothing more then going out on her bike and she was very careful.
"We often rode as a group and people used to comment on how good a rider she was.
"I know she was very proficient and good and, if she had any chance of being able to stop, she would have done."
• Follow us on Facebook and Twitter
•Emergency services updates and breaking news
