The father of a biker killed in a crash has told the driver who pulled out in front of his son that he owes it to himself to be honest about what happened.

Anthony Stone this week looked Darren Akhurst in the eye and asked him if he had been using his phone or sat-nav when he pulled into the path of 25-year-old Benjamin Stone.

Benjamin, of Sturry Road, Canterbury, hit the back of the van, sending him under the wheels of an oncoming vehicle in Stone Street, Petham.

An inquest into his death heard Mr Akhurst, from Gillingham, had pulled over to use his phone to contact a customer for directions on August 22 last year.

But as he pulled back on to the road after failing to secure a signal, Mr Akhurst says he heard a thud on the back of his van.

Benjamin, who had braked to avoid the Volkswagen Caddy, hit it from behind, losing control of the bike and careering under the wheels of a Ford Transit van travelling towards him.

He died at the scene after suffering multiple injuries.

A police investigation found Benjamin had been riding his 1980s Honda at about 45mph along the 60mph road.

Mr Akhurst said he was 100% sure nobody was behind him and had checked his mirrors before indicating and accelerating on to the road.

But three witnesses who were in nearby cars said they had not noticed any indication.

Mr Stone, who lives in Harrietsham and attended the inquest with Benjamin’s mother Debbie and sister Helen, was given the opportunity to question Mr Akhurst.

He said: “Were you in a hurry? Do you think in any way, shape or form you were distracted by any form of technology?”

Mr Akhurst responded: “Absolutely not. I had pulled over to use my mobile phone and didn’t have any signal so decided to leave. My sat-nav was broken. I looked in the mirror and pulled out. It all happened so quickly.

“Something hit the back of my van. I have been driving for more than 19 years and I was 100% sure nobody was behind me.

“I got out of the van and couldn’t see the motorbike. I could just see the man in the road. I was in shock. I thought I was going to pass out.”

Mr Stone, who has been riding motorbikes for more than 40 years, told the inquest his son was a better driver than he had ever been and a very experienced rider who was always safe.

Assistant coroner James Dillon, sitting at Margate Coroners’ Court, ruled Benjamin’s death had been an accident.

He said: “The distance between Mr Stone and the van was between 70-75 metres. At around 45mph this would’ve taken around three seconds to cover.

“A canopy of trees created shade near to where Mr Stone was driving as the van pulled out on to the road, which I would say, on the balance of probabilities, means that visibility was poor and Mr Akhurst was unable to see Mr Stone at that particular angle.”

After the verdict was passed, Anthony Stone stood up to read a statement, saying: “To the driver who pulled out, if indeed you made a genuine mistake, then it was an accident and some day I hope you will come to terms with it.

“But if, however, you were in any way distracted by technology, by your mobile phone or sat-nav, then I believe that this is more than a tragic accident.

“But only the driver knows the truth of that situation.

“I hope he finds a way to move on from this, but I would like to say to him that he owes it to himself to be honest about what happened on that day, and that opportunity does still exist for you.”

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