A teenage motorcyclist was doing wheelies on the A2 moments before he collided with a lorry, an inquest has heard.
Jamie Gooda, of Wilberforce Way, Gravesend, died of a serious head injury in hospital after coming off his moped on the coastbound carriageway of the A2 at Singlewell on June 13, 2008.
Dartford County Court heard how the 17-year-old apprentice mechanic from High Cross Mot Ltd in Swanscombe had been “driving erratically” before he collided with a foreign lorry which was being driven by Stephanie Weseman from Germany.
Giving evidence at the hearing on Tuesday, Dean Cripps , of Water Mill Way, Dartford, said: “He was cutting across the traffic. He was doing wheelies and driving in and out of cones.”
An investigation carried out by Kent Police revealed modifications had been made to Jamie’s scooter which may have made steering more difficult.
However no contributory factors to the incident could be found.
Recording a verdict of accidental death coroner Alan Blunsdon said: “The only explanation is that it was a tragic accident.”