A MOTORCYCLIST died in a horror smash as he tried to overtake a Landrover, an inquest heard.

Joshua Day, from Latchingdon, died from his injuries after being involved in a collision with three other cars on May 14.

The 22-year-old was driving his Yamaha Motorcycle along Cold Norton Road towards Latchingdon when he lost control of his motorcycle while trying to overtake a Landrover and BMW before colliding with a Vauxhall.

Paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene.

An inquest into his death was held at Essex Coroner’s Court in Chelmsford last Wednesday.

During the hearing, PC Danielle Branan from Essex Police said: “Joshua was riding his motorcycle on Cold Norton Road when he was involved in a collision with multiple vehicles.

“Joshua was driving behind a BWM and a Landrover. He had overtaken the BMW and had commenced overtaking the Landrover when a Vauxhall, came into sight on the opposite side of the road.

“Mr Day tried to re-enter the the correct side of the road but collided with the Landrover.

“He lost control of the motorcycle and became separated from it and became trapped underneath the Vauxhall.

“It is clear the driver had insufficient time to avoid the motorcycle and she reacted appropriately and there is nothing she could have done to avoid it.”

PC Branan added: “Mr Day’s motorcycle was fitted with a device which restricts the speed the throttle can be applied.

“The motorcycle was fitted with a restrictors which would have affected its ability to accelerate considerable.

“This is something Mr Day may not have considered when trying to overtake.”

The inquest heard the road had a slight bend which slightly restricted vision at the site of the collision.

PC Brenan considered “poor judgement” could have had a part to play in Mr Day’s decision to overtake.

Shew said: “We will never know what was going through his head but he might have used poor judgement when trying to overtake the Landrover when he did.”

There was no evidence that the vehicles involved were breaking the national speed limit.

A postmortem examination found the cause of death to be multiple traumatic injuries.

Senior coroner Caroline Beasley-Murray recorded Mr Day’s death as the result of a road traffic collision.

After the tragedy, Mr Day’s devastated family released a tribute saying: “He died doing what he loved best – riding his motorbike.

“He was the happiest, smiliest person and will be terribly missed by all of us.”