Moped crash victim's death 'caused by the sun's glow' - coroner

BOY'S DEATH 'COULD HAVE HAPPENED TO ANYBODY'

- By RUCSANDRA MOLDOVEANU

A TEENAGER who died in a moped crash that "could've happened to anybody" has been described as a "thoughtful rider".

Leon Bell was 16 when he died from injuries sustained in a collision in Besthorpe Road, Collingham.

He was riding his moped between Besthorpe and Collingham before midday on March 29 when he lost his balance and crashed after hitting the kerb.

He was taken to the Queen’s Medical Centre with head and chest injuries, and diagnosed with a non-survivable brain injury.

PC Anna Parkin, of Nottinghamshire Police, told the inquest into Leon’s death yesterday that the collision took place on a dry, bright day.

CCTV footage showed Leon lifting his left arm in the air "about half a second" before he struck the kerb, appearing to shield his eyes from the sun. She said: "I drove the same direction as Leon did on his moped three times and, without any sunglasses, I had to squint because of the sun."

Leon then hit the kerb and slid for a few seconds before coming off his bike.