You may have seen the harrowing footage of the moment 38 year old David Holmes lost his life in a tragic motorcycle accident at a junction in June last year. It’s been widely shared on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, and the video has already clocked millions of hits on YouTube.
The footage, captured on David’s helmet camera, is truly terrifying and shows the moment of impact when the driver found responsible pulled across his lane.
The video, David’s Story, has been released by his family as a message to road users to take road safety far more seriously in the hope that future accidents can be prevented. The video has been produced with the full backing of the police force who also hope that the message will be taken on board by both drivers and riders alike.
This story comes from The Ipswich Star and you can see the footage yourself on their website. Viewer discretion is advised; the video depicts David’s final moments as well as the terrifying collision itself. Whilst there are no graphic images, you may find the content distressing.
In a statement from the Chief Inspector of the Norfolk and Suffolk Roads Policing Unit, he noted that the opinions of viewers may very well be divided. According to the source he said:
“The video is shocking; however this is the reality of fatal collisions. The emotions people may experience after seeing this video can only touch the surface of those feelings that families and friends go through when losing a loved one in this way.”
“We know from the footage that David was travelling up to 100mph. Regardless of the speed of the bike, the car manoeuvre should not have been attempted. Clearly, he was taking a risk and has paid the ultimate price. The majority of bikers ride responsibly however, I’m sure many will relate to the riding style seen in this video. We know motorcyclists are a vulnerable group and this sad case is a reminder to all roads users to be alert to what is going on around you and to lower your speed.”
The driver of the vehicle was prosecuted earlier this year having admitted to not seeing either David or the other vehicle nearby.
As a firm of injury lawyers who specialise in motorcycle accident claims we unfortunately see these exact circumstances on a continual basis. Riders lucky to have survived such collisions are commonly severely injured and often left with lifelong impairment. Whilst our job as a firm of personal injury solicitors is to help such victims it makes it no easier in dealing with the emotions when helping the victims and their families.
The footage has sparked a lot of debate about the circumstances on social media outlets. But whatever your opinion on the footage, the important thing to remember and understand is the message that this video is trying to portray; the message that the family and the police want the public to understand.
That message is simple – all road users must take road safety seriously.
