The death of a 20-year-old from Wantage in a ‘tragic’ motorbike crash was caused by a ‘loss of control’, an inquest in Oxford heard yesterday.

Daniel Cracknell died on November 13 after the motorbike he was riding tipped over onto its side and collided with a campervan on a bend on the B4494.

He worked as a prototype and test apprentice in the Williams Formula One team, which is based in Grove.

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The crash occurred on November 5 on the road that links Wantage and Newbury at the point where it intersects with the Ridgeway bridlepath.

The first call to emergency services was made at 1.37pm with the crews arriving on scene at 1.47pm.

The road was reported to be damp at the time, although conditions were clear.

The inquest heard that Mr Cracknell’s motorbike overtook another vehicle before approaching a bend in the road.

The motorcycle then tipped over onto its side and headed towards an oncoming campervan.

The driver of the campervan attempted to move his vehicle out of the way but was unable to avoid a collision, the court was told. 

Oxford Mail:

But damage to neither vehicle was said to be severe.

The inquest heard that it was likely that Mr Cracknell’s vehicle was travelling above the 50mph speed limit for the road, but it was impossible to determine the exact velocity of the vehicle.

Mr Cracknell’s cause of death was given as a traumatic brain injury and the decision was made to turn off his life support eight days after the incident on the basis that doctors could not do anything to save him.

Mr Cracknell’s girlfriend was travelling on the back of the motorbike and sustained serious injuries in the crash.

Coroner Darren Salter recorded the cause of death as a ‘road traffic collision.’

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He told the coroner’s court: “We know that he [Daniel Cracknell] had less than a year’s experience but we have also heard that he was a good and careful driver.

“This was a damp road, and it was on a bend.

“The motorbike lost its grip and capsized."

The inquest heard that there were three possible reasons why the motorbike may have lost control.

These were that the driver over-lent into the turn, the driver approached the bend too quickly and braked on the bend, or that the motorbike was travelling too fast on the corner.

Mr Cracknell’s former school, Prince Henry’s High School in Evesham, said he was a 'wonderful student', and the school community has been left 'shocked and saddened' by his death.

A spokesperson for Williams Racing said: “Williams Racing is devastated at the loss of Dan Cracknell, an apprentice from the team who tragically lost his life last weekend at the age of 20 following a road traffic accident.

“Our thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues at this extremely sad time.”