A corner has determined that a cyclist found dead on a path in Upper Burnie last year “lost control of his bicycle” in the moments before the fatal crash.
Roy William Rogers, 60, had just left his sister-in-laws house when he attempted to ride down a steep path 350 metres away between Federal Street and Brooklyn Road in Burnie in February 2022.
He was found lying “with his face facing the ground” on the grass verge next to the path some three hours later by a woman out walking with her children, who immediately called 000.
Investigators found the bike upside down, with the handlebars and front tire on the ground closest to Rogers and the rear tire caught on a barbed wire fence that bordered the path.
They also found his helmet with the head strap fastened in a paddock 9.2 metres from his body. They told the coroner in their report that it appeared to have been “flung” there and was most likely hanging from the handlebars rather than being worn.
Corner Robert Webster said an autopsy showed Rogers suffered a mid-cervical spine fracture in the accident and had cannabis in his system, which may have affected his coordination and “ability to safely ride his bicycle down the path”.
While the bicycle was mechanically sound, a loose clamp that could have caused the handlebar grip to easily become detached may have made it unsteady to ride.
The investigating officers suspected that the clamp holding the handlebar grip in place may have fallen off during the journey, causing the rubber handgrip on the right-hand side handlebar to slide off and leading Rogers to fall.
“While [the loose grip] hypothesis is a reasonable one there is not sufficient evidence for me to find the crash occurred in those circumstances,” Coroner Webster said.
“I am however satisfied that as Mr Rogers attempted to ride down the path he has lost control of his bicycle and crashed which has resulted in him sustaining … fatal injuries.”
“I convey my sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of Mr Rogers.”
