A FAMILY man with a passion for motorcycles died on his way to work following a collision with a 7.5 tonne lorry, an inquest heard.

Christopher Price Jones, (pictured) 57, from Coed Morgan was travelling along the A4042 on his Yamaha motorcycle at around 8.15am on February 22 earlier this year when the collision occurred at the junction with the A472 at Little Mill.

At Newport Coroners' Court his widow Darlene paid tribute to Mr Jones, who she called "the love of my life."

"He was a fantastic person. I had 40 wonderful years with him. He was the love of my life, he was my rock."

She told the court about the morning her husband died, "He was fit and well, we always had a cwtch and a cuddle before he left for work in the mornings and say, 'take care I love you.'

"We were looking forward to a good weekend with my daughter in North Wales. It was something he was looking forward to when he came home. He was going to see his mum straight after work, she's 94 years old, and he was going to see her before we went. Him and my son were looking forward to going on the scrambler bikes. Then I received a phone call to say my husband was involved in an accident so I went straight to the Royal Gwent Hospital."

Mr Jones, a father of three, held his licence for around 40 years and started off riding scooters before working his way up to motorcycles.

"It was a passion for him," said Mrs Jones, "He was a safe and confident driver who did not take any risks. My family have supported me as much as possible he just did not deserve that at all."

The court heard from one witness Roy Higginbottom, who said he was parked in a lay-by near to where the collision occurred that morning. He said he saw Mr Jones riding his motorcycle in a normal manner and not of excess speed.

Another witness statement was read out from Jodie Louise Saladino, who saw the collision and contacted the emergency services. She also said the motorcycle was not being ridden at excess speed.

A statement from PC Marc Porter was read out, "At around 8.45am I received an immediate call of a road traffic collision just past Mamhilad towards Usk. Upon arrival I could see a male lying in the road. He was not moving and paramedics were around him. The lorry driver approached me and said, 'The bike came from nowhere when I pulled out, it was doing at least 100mph, I had no time to see him.' I noticed that the passenger door of the lorry was dented and the window was smashed."

PC Reynolds investigated the incident and told the court that the headlamp of the motorcycle would have been on before the collision and he noticed there was no signs of breaking from either vehicle.

He said the lorry was fitted with a tachograph which confirmed a speed of 16mph and that the lorry driver would have had an "uninterrupted" view of Mr Jones for around 300 yards. He also confirmed that there were no defects in either vehicle.

PC Reynolds said the driver was interviewed and he old the police officer that he did not stop at the give way line. He said he did look and the bike was 'not there to be seen.'

"When it was pointed out that it would have been impossible for the bike not to have been there, he (the lorry driver) said he did look but he did not see the bike," said PC Reynolds.

The driver, David Eric Gundy took to the stand during the inquest but didn't comment.

In a post mortem examination it was concluded that Mr Jones died as a result of multiple injuries and trauma.

Deputy Gwent Coroner Wendy James said, "I have heard evidence that the bike was not being driven at excessive speed and that witnesses saw the lorry come straight out of the junction into the bike.

"He was not an occasional motorcyclist, he held a license for very many years and used it regularly to travel back and forth to work using this particular stretch of road on a regular basis. He commuted to and from work on a daily basis for some 10 years, he was very familiar. It is apparent that he was driving his bike in a perfectly proper and safe manner. There is no evidence to show me that speed was a factor. He would have been in Mr Gundy's line of sight at the give way point, as he approached Mr Gundy pulled out into the path of the motorcycle, for whatever reason he failed to see him and the bike. "Events would have unfolded in front of Mr Jones in a split second and there would have been no opportunity to take evasive action."

Mr Gundy has been charged with driving without due care and attention.

Verdict: accidental death.

*WE reported a tribute from Mr Jones' family in February who remembered him as a "devoted family man."

His son Neil Jones, said he was a "lovely, caring and devoted husband and father to Emma, Rachelle and myself. All the family are totally devastated, the loss of the most loving, caring father any family could want. He was a fitness fanatic all his life. His forte was as a long distance runner in competitions, gathering many achievements."

Mr Jones' children followed in his footsteps for his love of sport and they idolised him "for his positive attitude, motivation and most of all his support," he said.