A SPEEDING motorcyclist died under the wheel of a lorry pulling out of a junction in Teignmouth, an inquest has been told.

Dean Platt was travelling at least at 37mph along New Road, which has a 30mph limit, when he rounded a bend, just as the truck was coming out of Maudlin Drive.

He braked hard and lost control of the 1000cc Honda CVR motorcycle, before hitting the delivery flatbed on July 1 last year.

His injuries were so severe, he could only be identified by his fingerprints, the inquest at Bitton House heard.

The hearing was told that Mr Platt, 45, a builder of Dagmar Street, Shaldon, had been worried about domestic and financial problems, and was also concerned that bailiffs had been due to visit his flat.

His partner, Victoria Carlon of Jordan Drive, Teignmouth, in a statement, said he had been stressed the day before, 'and probably decided to go for a burn to get de-stressed'.

'It was his way of getting it off his chest and he had done so before. But he was generally happy with his life and never thought of doing anything stupid.'

Delivery driver Graham Fisher of East Ogwell, who was driving the Daf flatbed, said he knew the area well, and was coming down Maudlin Drive at about 15 mph.

He stopped at the junction with New Road for about five to six seconds, and the road was clear. He began to pull out to turn right, and saw a motorcycle coming towards him from the right.

There was a collision with the rear of the lorry, and he said his back wheels were nearly over the central white line. He added that the vehicle had an overhang of about one-and-a-half metres.

Motor patrol constable John Hitchcock, who investigated the accident, said the rear of the bike slipped under heavy braking, and the rider and machine slid along the road. Mr Platt's head hit the lorry wheels while they were still turning.

From tests, PC Hitchings calculated that the motorcycle was travelling at not less than 37mph, but it could have been faster. The lorry driver would not have been able to see the machine as he began to pull out.

Lollipop lady Susan West, who was on duty at the Buckeridge Road junction, saw the red Honda go past her at about 30mph, which she believed was 'slightly fast for the road conditions', with parked cars and children around.

Planning engineer Leighton Curtis, of Moor Close, was driving his son to a child minder along New Road, when he noticed the lorry pull out of Maudlin Drive. He noticed a motorcyclist come around a corner, but then lost sight of him, before hearing a bang. The truck driver was already committed to pulling out, he stated.

Another motorist, Beverley Ferris, was also driving along New Road at the time, and witnessed the bike hitting the lorry.

A nurse, Claire Seymour, whose house overlooks the junction, saw Mr Platt lying on his back in the road. A crowd was gathering, and she rushed to give first aid, but could not find a pulse, and he had stopped breathing.

Paramedic Christopher Hill said Mr Platt suffered 'massive head injuries', and it was obvious he was dead.

In her statement, Ms Carlon added that she had been engaged to Mr Platt, and he had suffered depression because of arguments with his former wife. He had been prescribed drugs for depression, but had not rowed with his wife lately, and he was improving. He was a good bike rider, and rode virtually every day.

Coroner's officer Ric Parsons said a post mortem revealed that death was due to 'multiple severe injuries', and a visual identification was not possible. Mr Platt was formally identified through his fingerprints.

Mr Parsons continued, saying that tests showed that Mr Platt had used cannabis.

South Devon coroner Ian Arrow recorded a verdict of accidental death, and added: 'I am sure he died instantly, and didn't know anything about it.'