A motorcyclist could do nothing to avoid hitting a pensioner as he crossed the road, an inquest into the elderly man’s death heard.

Richard Kane, 88, was walking over Dargets Road, Walderslade, on his way home to Cooper Road from nearby shops when he was struck by Joseph Fisher’s Yamaha bike.

Mr Kane suffered head and pelvic injuries and was taken to King’s College Hospital in London where a decision was later made to turn off his life support machine.

The retired porter, who had lived in Medway for more than 30 years, died in hospital on November 10, 2013.

An inquest into his death was held at the Archbishop’s Palace in Maidstone when the rider of the bike, Mr Fisher, who is in his mid 20s, gave evidence.

He said he didn’t see Mr Kane until he appeared in his headlight and he did all he could to avert the accident.

He added: “I tried to brake. I did everything I could (to avoid the collision) to the best of my ability.”

The crash happened shortly after 5pm when it was dark and raining. Mr Kane had been wearing dark clothing that day including a long mac and one witness, Richard Bullard, said he noticed Mr Kane was walking with his head down.

Mr Bullard also said the motorcyclist was not speeding at the time of the impact.

PC Guy Ditcher, from the serious collision investigation team, told the court Mr Fisher had been taken to hospital after the accident with a leg injury. He had no alcohol in his system and passed an eye test with flying colours.

Crash investigators said they used a 60-year-old colleague dressed in similar dark attire to Mr Kane and got him to cross the road in front of them as they drove up it.

PC Mark Chapelhow, said: “We asked him to walk across the road and were quite surprised how difficult it was to see our colleague.

“In my opinion, the gradient of the hill and the night time back drop and Mr Kane wearing dark clothing, meant therefore he was not visible (to the rider), until he was in the throw of the vehicle’s headlight.”

Mr Fisher, of Kellaway Road, Lordswood, said he was familiar with he road and added had been riding motorbikes since he was 16. Mr Fisher had been charged with causing Mr Kane’s death by careless driving but the charge was dropped.

Coroner Patrica Harding concluded that Mr Kane died as a result of an accident.

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