Inquests into two fatal crashes

Kade Bougourd, 19, lived at Les Mourants Farm, St Andrew’s. He was one of eight children and a full-time IT student at the Guernsey College of Further Education.

Inspector Karl Zierlinger told the hearing that at about 11.30pm on 20 April, Mr Bougourd was a rear seat passenger in a Ford Kuga that was involved in a crash on the Vazon coast road. No other vehicles were involved.

Mr Bougourd was thrown from the vehicle along with three of the other occupants.

All three emergency services responded. It was clear that Mr Bougourd had sustained serious injuries and he was consequently taken to hospital, where he died at 12.51am.

Home Office pathologist Dr Russell Delaney carried out a post-mortem examination on 4 May and found the cause of death to be chest injuries.

Inspector Zierlinger said police enquiries were yet to be completed. The court agreed to release his body for burial or cremation.

The inquest was adjourned indefinitely until investigations are completed.

Police are still seeking witnesses to the crash.

Judge Gary Perry extended the court’s sympathies to relatives and friends of Mr Bougourd following the loss of ‘such a young life’.

Mr Bougourd’s family released his photograph yesterday.

He had been due to complete his studies this month and was considering doing an internship. He also worked part-time in a fish and chip shop.

Motorcyclist died of head injuries

A TEENAGE motorcyclist who died in a collision with a bus had owned the machine he was riding for just a few weeks.

Haydn Dodd, 18, of Avion Cottage, Ruette des Courtillets, St Andrew’s, died in hospital on Monday 3 May after the crash in Rectory Hill, Castel.

Inspector Andrew Dufour told the opening of an inquest how Mr Dodd had ridden a scooter from the age of 14 and in April this year bought a blue 600cc Suzuki.

At about 5.35pm on the bank holiday afternoon he rode the Suzuki along Route de Cobo and L’Aumone, before turning into Rue du Presbytere. A friend on a motorbike was riding in front of him while another was following him in a car. A CT Plus bus was being driven down Rue du Presbytere in the opposite direction at the same time, past Chemin Robin housing estate, and the driver was preparing to turn left into Rue des Traversains towards the Castel Hospital. The first motorcyclist passed the bus, but as a result of its speed the bus was caused to stop in the road.

A few seconds later Mr Dodd entered the bend, lost control of his motorcycle, and collided with the front of the bus.

All three emergency services attended the incident. It was clear that Mr Dodd had suffered serious injuries and he was taken to hospital.

Death was pronounced at 6.11pm.

In a preliminary post-mortem report, States consultant pathologist Dr Catherine Chinyama found the cause of death to be severe head injuries from the collision.

Inspector Dufour said there was an unavoidable delay in the police accident investigation, which it was anticipated would take several weeks to complete, as would the full post-mortem report.

Judge Gary Perry granted the release of the body for burial or cremation and adjourned the inquest indefinitely. He extended the court’s sympathies to Mr Dodd’s relatives and friends for what he said was ‘the tragic loss of a young life’.