AN EXPERIENCED motorcyclist died on the A303 near Mere after losing control of his scooter, an inquest has heard.

Andrew Philip Rawlins, 45, from Tilehurst in Reading, was travelling on the A303 to Plymouth to catch a ferry to France for a scooter rally.

Mr Rawlins died at the scene of the crash at Chaddenwick Hill, Charnage, on June 11, at about 2.45pm after his scooter hit a safety barrier and deflected into the path of a Ford Mondeo travelling in the other direction.

On the day of his death the railway worker was travelling with two of his friends, Sarah and Richard Wiltshire, who were also on scooters. They had left early to ensure they had plenty of time to catch their evening ferry crossing.

Mr Rawlins’ wife Carol said he was a “very experienced” scooter and motorbike rider and would never get on a bike if he felt it was unsafe.

The inquest in Salisbury on Friday heard Mr Rawlins had only been riding the scooter for a short time and this was the first long journey he had made on it.

His friend Richard Wiltshire described him as “captain cautious” and said he was “exceptionally careful”.

He told the inquest Mr Rawlins' scooter had already been modified when he got it. He said there was nothing that concerned him about the bike.

The Wiltshires were travelling in front of Mr Rawlins but did not witness the crash. They had lost sight of him after overtaking a camper van. They waited for him in a layby but grew worried when he did not appear.

Conditions that day were fine and dry.

Malcolm Davies, who was the driver of the Ford Mondeo, said the scooter came across the road and he had expected the rider to correct his course.

Mr Davies said it was his impression the driver had got the bend “quite wrong”.

The vehicle examiner found no vehicle defects with the Mondeo and said the scooter modifications would have altered the geometry of the bike affecting the handling characteristics.

Components from the scooter were sourced from different locations and the investigator said some did not appear to have approval marks such as European testing, but said it did not appear a mechanical failure caused the incident.

At the scene, collision investigators found a long gouge on the road, which they believed was caused by a component from the scooter.

There was “catastrophic” damage to the scooter and although parts were recovered investigators were not able to pinpoint what part of the scooter had caused it.

The investigator said it was possible a part of the scooter failed or had come "adrift" and could have caused the loss of control.

Dr Claire Balysz, assistant coroner for Wiltshire and Swindon, said Mr Rawlins was an “experienced motorcyclist” and the evidence showed he was riding the scooter “safely and appropriately”.

She said the scooter had been “extensively modified”, carrying luggage, and the front tyre had been over inflated, while the other under inflated.

She said: “There was nothing the driver of the Mondeo could have done to avoid the collision."

Dr Balysz added: “He lost control of his scooter after negotiating a left hand bend. He lost control due to factors relating to the scooter.”

The conclusion was road traffic collision and the cause of death was multiple traumatic injuries.