By Staff Reporter

Last updated 11:52, Wednesday, 14 May 2008

A WEST Cumbrian couple killed in a head-on motorbike collision on a Lake District road had taken a cocktail of drugs beforehand.

Lost control: John Rogerson and Jacqueline Arthur

John Rogerson and Jacqueline Arthur died instantly when the Kawasaki bike he was riding smashed into a Toyota Hilux pick-up truck on the A591 Keswick to Windermere road in April last year.

At an inquest into their deaths held yesterday, a toxicology report revealed that Mr Rogerson, of Stainburn, Workington, had taken amphetamine, cannabis and diazepam while his girlfriend Ms Arthur, of South William Street, Workington, had amphetamine, cannabis, temazepam and paracetamol in her system.

Eyewitnesses travelling in the opposite direction said they saw Mr Rogerson lose control of the bike on the single carriageway road close to the King’s Head pub, near Thirlmere, and veer across the white lines onto the wrong side of the road.

David Williams was driving from Preston to Keswick seconds before the accident on Sunday, April 1, and estimated the motorcycle was travelling at around 70mph.

He said: “I could see that the rider had lost control of the bike and was fighting with the bike’s steering, trying to regain control.”

Mary Schumm, a passenger in her husband’s car, said: “On first seeing the bike, I could see the rider was leaning to his left hand side and the pillion passenger (Ms Arthur) was leaning in the opposite direction, to the right hand side.

“The wheels of the bike didn’t appear to be turning correctly and gave the impression of beginning to slip on the road.”

PC Gerard Doran, collision investigator with Cumbria Police’s Western Roads Policing Unit, said road and weather conditions were good and there were no mechanical problems with the bike or the pick-up.

He added: “I believe the loss of control may have begun due to an inexperienced pillion passenger leaning to the wrong way.

“The rider’s inability to correct the situation resulted from the following factors: excessive speed for the road; the environment and his ability with the load carried; and impairment of the rider through drugs.”

Dr Craig Chatterton, forensic scientist at a laboratory in Chorley, Lancashire, who carried out the toxicology report, said that individually, the drugs can have an effect on a person’s ability to operate a vehicle.

“If used in combination, the drugs’ effects are likely to be exacerbated,” he added.

Michael Armstrong, Mr Rogerson’s cousin, was one of a group of bikers riding together on the day of the accident.

He said: “I’ve been riding motorcycles with John for at least 20 years. I’ve always known him to be a careful, competent rider.”

The driver of the pick-up truck, Alistair Walton, of Thirlmere, said he had swerved into a grass verge at the side of the road as he braked to avoid the collision but a wall prevented him moving any further over. He said he was still haunted by the vision of the motorcycle heading for him.

“I travel the road every day and I can still see the bike in my mind coming straight towards me on the wrong side of the road,” he added.

Mr Rogerson, 40, a former driving instructor who had hoped to become a motorcycle trainer, and Ms Arthur, a 44-year-old mother-of-four who had worked for Allerdale Council’s motor project team advising youngsters how to use cars and motorbikes, safely both died instantly of head injuries.

John Taylor, north and west Cumbria coroner recorded a verdict of accidental death.