Businessman died in crash leading convoy on European road trip

Colin Askey, of Oaken Grange, Cheslyn Hay, had been leading a convoy of 28 other bikes in the Srbrenica area of the country when he lost control of his Ducati bike.

The 52-year-old's friend Roy Fradley, who was riding behind him, also came off his bike and hit the same car, but despite his injuries, he survived.

It happened on September 30 last year.

Father-of-two Mr Askey's widow Jacky said she was surprised he died on the road, considering how seriously he took riding safely.

After his inquest at Cannock Coroner's Court, she said: "He was a really experienced rider. He did a lot of trips on his own and with other people.

"He did the Dakar Rally twice.

"It was his life, but he was a safe rider, he would never have taken risks.

"He always used to say if he saw anyone overtaking dangerously that they were giving good motorcyclists a bad name.

"It's just unbelievable that it was him who has ended up being killed when he was such a safe rider.

"He lived life to the full and was a huge character.

"He is a massive loss, I'm still receiving messages from people now offering their sympathies."

At the hearing on Tuesday, Andrew Heathcote, coroners officer, told the court that Mr Askey had been leading the 28-strong convoy from Croatia, where they had spent the previous night, through Slovenia and on the way to Italy, their next destination.

He said: "Police investigators in Slovenia have said that he approached a bend to the right.

"He and Mr Clifford were leaning to the right.

"They both skidded in the road.

"Colin's bike then collided with a car on the opposite site of the road."

He added that Mr Askey was thrown into a ditch on the side of the road, while Mr Fradley landed at the wheels of the car after skidding across the road.

He said: "Investigators said that the road was dry and visibility was good.

"He suffered multiple injuries and was pronounced dead a the scene."

The trip's organiser, Nicholas Duncan from Wild Side Events, informed Jacky of his death over the phone shortly after the crash.

Andrew Haigh, senior coroner for South Staffordshire, said: "When a death occurs abroad, we are reliant on the evidence that local investigators can provide.

"The police in Slovenia have supplied a very detailed report. I've heard that Colin was an experienced motorcyclist.

"It is unclear whether Colin was travelling at an inappropriate speed, if there was contact between the two bikes or if indeed Colin had a natural, medical issue.

"The cause of his death was multiple injuries as a result of a road traffic accident.

Mr Askey, who ran Askey Precision Engineering in Willenhall, is survived by Jacky and their daughters Sophie, 24, and Chloe, 19.