Bristol biker drove into bus
Lorry driver Michael Lee, 43, was also unlikely to have fastened his motorcycle helmet before he set off on his Harley-Davidson Sportster 1200cc and crashed into the First bus on August 23 last year.
Avon deputy coroner Terry Moore was told that Mr Lee's helmet came off when his motorbike struck the bus in Shirehampton Road and was later found near the scene of the crash undamaged.
Mr Lee, who lived in Blaise Walk, Sea Mills, died four hours after the crash at the Bristol Royal Infirmary from a head injury.
The inquest was told that CCTV cameras on the bus captured Mr Lee on his motorbike shortly before and immediately after the crash, which happened at 8.30pm.
He had been following behind the bus as it headed from Shirehampton towards Sea Mills when the vehicle pulled in to a stop near Penpole Lane to drop passengers off.
At yesterday's inquest at Flax Bourton, Mr Moore was told Mr Lee's motorcycle hit the corner of the stationary bus at about 26mph and the rider was knocked to the other side of the road.
The bus driver dashed to the aid of Mr Lee and he and other members of the public helped lift the motorcycle from him before an ambulance arrived and he was taken to hospital.
Tests revealed Mr Moore had 277 milligrams of alcohol in his system per 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit for driving is 80mg.
Mr Moore said that a reading of 300 milligrams was associated with serious alcohol poisoning.
Recording a verdict of accidental death, he said: "He appears to have caught the offside rear of the bus with his motorcycle handlebars and mirror, he was thrown from the bike and his helmet was thrown off and separated from him prior to him hitting his head.
"The other factor is the amount of alcohol found in his body. We all know that driving and alcohol don't mix. We could say that someone who hadn't had alcohol might have fastened their helmet."
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Michael Lee,Bristol Royal Infirmary,Shirehampton Road,Harley- Davidson,Terry Moore,Bus
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