A BASINGSTOKE dad died after he was hit by an “erratic and distracted” car driver, who was on his phone minutes before the crash, an inquest has heard.

Matthew Joseph Harris, 34, of Dankworth Road, died after his Honda CRF motorcycle was involved in a collision with a Vauxhall Vectra just before 6.30pm on January 2, 2020.

An inquest at Winchester Coroner’s Court on Wednesday, August 31, heard that Mr Harris was also travelling over the speed limit along Popley Way when the collision occurred just opposite Saint Bede's Church.

Paul Oncea, the driver of a silver Vauxhall Vectra, was taking a right turn on Popley Way to proceed to Abbey Road when Mr Harris’ motorbike collided with his car.

Assistant coroner Sarah Whitby found that Mr Harris died because of multiple injuries he suffered from the collision.

The toxicology report confirmed that he had no alcohol or drugs in his body at the time of his death.

READ MORE: What happens at an inquest and what can the press report?

The inquest heard from three witnesses – Syed Ali Syed Abdul Kader, Donna Jeenes and Mark Roche – who were travelling along Popley Way at the time of collision, and PC Emma Pragnell, who was a forensic collision investigator for Hampshire Constabulary at the time of the incident.

Mr Kader said he was returning home after picking up his wife when Mr Oncea’s silver Vauxhall overtook him just after the Aldermaston Roundabout.

Mr Kader said: “It's not a point where two cars can come in. But he squeezed in between me at quite a fast rate. In front of me there was another red van. Its driver did not give him space because there was a bus coming in front. But he tried to squeeze in between the van and the bus and went away.

“After he managed to overtake the van he probably wanted to show the anger. So he slowed down. And then after that he sped off again.

“When we reached somewhere in front of the church, I heard this loud bang and I saw that the motorcycle was being thrown apart and coming across the road to my side.”

Both Ms Jeenes and Mr Roche were waiting at that the traffic lights on Popley Way when Mr Harris' motorbike came in between their cars.

They said he sped off as soon as the lights went green before he collided with the Vauxhall car.

PC Pragnell said in her report that her investigations found Mr Harris 'did one or two wheelies as he sped off from the traffic signal'.

Mr Oncea reported to police that he didn’t see Mr Harris's motorbike while taking the turn.

Later he told officers that he made a safe manoeuvre and couldn't see the motorbike, adding that the rider did not have a light on.

SEE ALSO: 'I can't comprehend that he is gone': Tributes paid to Popley Way motorcyclist victim

But forensic analysis of Mr Harris'a headlight proved the motorcyclist had his light on at the time of the crash.

PC Pragnell who also showed the inquest CCTV from Saint Bede’s Church which showed Mr Oncea was moving at a slow speed, while Mr Harris was travelling above the speed limit at the time of crash.

She added that her investigations found Mr Oncea was on his phone just four minutes before the time of the collision.

In addition, his car did not have insurance and an MOT certificate.

In concluding the inquest, assistant coroner Sarah Whitby said: “It is more likely than not the car driver did not see the motorbike due to the speed of the motorbike and the night-time conditions.

“It is also more likely than not, as indicated by his previous erratic driving, he was distracted by use of his phone, and the van incident.”

Despite the dark night, Ms Whitby said that the motorcycle "was still available to be seen" and said that it was the distractions impacting Mr Oncea that lead to the crash.

Mr Oncea has not been prosecuted following the collision, Ms Whitby added the evidence "did not meet" the threshold for a case of gross negligent manslaughter.