THE driver of a van involved in a crash that killed a 22-year-old motorcyclist 'didn’t stand a chance' to avoid the fatal collision, an inquest has heard.

Curtis Jay Banks, of Milnthorpe, was killed when the Honda CVR motorcycle he was riding collided head-on with a Ford Transit van driven by Charlie Tomlinson, a 24-year-old carpenter, on the A6 at Princes Way at Heversham.

The crash happened at around 8.40 am on June 24, 2022 and Mr Banks was pronounced dead at 9am.

Mr Banks' mother Leanne Foster said in a statement read to Cockermouth Coroners' Court that her son 'dearly loved, and 'was very protective of' his siblings.

She said he had lots of interests growing up including football, PlayStation, and exploring the lakes on his motorbike.

Mrs Foster said that Mr Banks 'wasn’t a risk taker' and 'a careful and competent rider'.

He had a provisional driving licence and had passed his Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) test, allowing him to ride a motorcycle, but had not yet gained a full driving licence.

Eyewitnesses reported seeing Mr Banks riding northbound on the single carriageway stretch of the A6 behind a skip wagon when he veered into the southbound carriageway, colliding with Mr Tomlinson’s southbound-travelling van.

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Mr Tomlinson, who was uninjured, said that an eyewitness and the skip driver 'reassured me there was nothing I could have done', and that he was 'devastated to learn that the motorcyclist had lost his life’'

Police confirmed that Mr Tomlinson was not under the influence of any alcohol or drugs.

A police forensic collision report said that CCTV evidence showed that Mr Tomlinson would have had 0.7 seconds to react after seeing Mr Banks' motorcycle – and that most drivers will respond around 1.5 seconds after seeing an oncoming object.

The report showed no evidence of vehicle failure and a toxicology report on Mr Banks showed no evidence of any alcohol or drugs.

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The report concluded that driver error was a contributory factor to the crash – that Mr Banks was driving too close to the rear of the skip wagon and failed to see the oncoming van.

Assistant Coroner for Cumbria Craig Smith found the cause of death to be multiple injuries, caused by a road traffic collision.

He said: "It’s clear that Curtis was a very sociable person.

"He loved being around people and he was very well thought of.

"It's tragic that a young man who was clearly forging a way in life had been taken away before all of his potential could be fully realised, and I can only begin to imagine how his sudden passing has affected his family.

"He will be very deeply missed by them and all those who had the privilege of knowing Curtis."