A MAN died in a motorcycle crash on the A595 after travelling at high speed, an inquest heard.

Lee Scott Mercer died at the age of 46 on August 25, 2019 near Muncaster.

The Blackburn resident was said to have been on a day’s ride on his blue Kawasaki motorbike with his friend Jason Shinks.

The pair had been in Wales before heading into Cumbria via the M6, then eventually onto the A595 northbound where he crashed into a Seat Ibiza, Cockermouth Coroner’s Court was told.

Lorraine Mercer, Mr Mercer’s mother, said: “He worked for Guardian Homecare in Darwen.

“There are former Blackburn Rovers players in there and he loved to hear and share their stories.

“He loved being a father and looking after his two boys.

“I will remember him as a cheeky, happy, and smiley man.

“He was a very caring man and would do anything for anyone.

“Our family is a very close one. It has had an impact on all of us.

“Life will never be the same again without him.”

Mrs Mercer also said how her son was a big fan of live music whatever the genre and was a keen gym goer and tennis player.

A police report estimated that his speed at the time was around 87 to 94 miles per hour in a 40mph zone.

Due to the damage to the car they were instantly aware when they arrived on the scene it was a high-speed incident.

No alcohol or drugs were found in his system and the report from the attending officer, PC Cunningham said: ‘the factor causing the collision was the speed at which he was travelling’.

Tyler Lancaster, who was travelling on the A595 with his partner Nicole White, at the time of the accident.

He said: “When I was going around the corner, I saw a blue bike on my side of the road. It hit within seconds.

“I could not have taken any evasive action to avoid him.”

Mr Mercer died at the scene after being treated by medics from the Great North Air Ambulance Service at 8pm.

A post-mortem revealed Mr Mercer had suffered multiple fractures from the trauma.

A cause of death of multiple injuries, which was accepted by the coroner.

In his conclusion, coroner Craig Smith said: “Mr Mercer was riding his motorbike in Muncaster and failed to negotiate a left-hand bend.

“He later went into cardiac arrest and all attempts to resuscitate him failed.

“This death was as a result of a road traffic collision.”