A FORMER RNLI crewman tragically died when his motorbike hit a bus in a head-on crash causing a horrifying fireball.
Luke Burton, 23, lost his life in the accident near the Blue Dolphin holiday park in Filey, Yorkshire, on July 16, 2020, an inquest has heard.
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The oil rig worker lost control of his Suzuki motorbike after braking heavily when a double-decker bus approached on the opposite lane.
Burton sustained severe head injuries when he came off the bike and hit the bus, and died at the scene.
Luke’s dad Brett Burton read out a heartbreaking statement to the court in Northallerton.
He said: “He was loved and liked by so many people, always the life and soul wherever he was, he was a massive part of so many people’s lives, it was second to none.
“He loved life, loved to party and had so many friends he would meet up with, always having a laugh and a joke, he was just so happy, had a smile so large nobody will ever forget.”
Luke, who had followed in his father’s footsteps and volunteered for the RNLI, was said to have enjoyed helping people when he could.
“The tragic loss of Luke has destroyed his family, it has left a massive hole in our lives and hearts, he was just one in a million,” said Mr Burton.
“On the day we put Luke to rest, the whole of the Filey town was on its knees. Everyone was out to pay their respects, I’ve never seen like it in my life, it just showed how loved Luke was and still is.”
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He added: “Everybody is struggling with this loss and life will never be the same again.”
The former Filey School pupil was described as being “very bright and outgoing” and a keen sportsman who loved football and skiing.
After he left school he worked offshore in the oil rigs and was quickly promoted.
Family friend Wayne Cobbold told the coroner’s court that Luke was a “safety-conscious” person due to the nature of his work and “a sensible kid with his head screwed on”.
The court heard how Luke had gone out for a ride with his dad and “uncle” Wayne Cobbold on July 16.
They selected a route that would help Luke get the feel of his new bike and also allow him to get some practice as he had just passed his A2 test the day before.
But tragedy struck less than 10 minutes into the ride when the crash happened on The Marr as Luke braked too heavily and lost control of his bike.
Mr Cobbald, who witnessed the head-on impact with the Shoreline Suncruisers bus on a bend, said he believed that Luke had braked hard and could have “panicked” when he saw the large vehicle appear on the other side of the road.
The back end of Luke’s bike span out of control and he was thrown off, striking the bus’s wheels, the Yorkshire Post reports.
He was pronounced dead at the scene at 5.23pm.
A toxicology report found that Luke had been over the drug drive limit for cocaine.
Mr Cobbold also paid tribute to Luke saying: “He was a confident, capable young man, just promoted at work. He was a sensible kid with his head screwed on right.
“He was a lovely and lively lad and best mates with my son.”
Recording a verdict of death in a road traffic collision, assistant coroner for North Yorkshire John Broadbridge said: “The aim of the ride was to give Luke a bit of experience and to help him if he needed any pointers.
“Luke was within his own lane when the bike dropped onto its side and was already losing control when he straddled the white line.
“There is no evidence to suggest that he or the other bikers were riding in an untoward manner or speeding.
“What made Luke hit the brakes so hard is a matter for different narratives. His father felt that the bus approached on the wrong side of the road, but he was looking from his rear view mirror. PC Green was unable to determine its exact position.
“The alternative is that the bus was within its lane and Luke over-reacted to its proximity, possibly influenced by the ingestion of cocaine, and misjudged its position.
“The collision occurred when the bus was in its correct lane, but this does not mean that the bus was not in the other lane at some point.
“It could have recovered by the time of impact. The key point is whether the bus encroached at the moment Luke lost control. Certainly, it would have been very close due to its sheer size.
“I place greater reliance on contemporary evidence rather than that given by Brett Burton at a later date.
“The front of the bus may have appeared to be over the white line even if its wheels were not. It cannot reliably be determined, but its very proximity had undoubtedly led to heavier application of the brakes and a loss of control.”
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