A MOTORCYCLIST’S death after he collided with a tree could have been avoided had he not altered his helmet to make room for headphones, an inquest has heard.

Trevor Smith, of Beeching Way, Wallingford, died in an early morning crash on the A417 near East Hendred.

The 53-year old had just bought a new motorbike, a black Honda, but shortly before 10am on October 15 last year he was seen to veer off to the left of the single lane-carriageway before striking a tree and sustaining a ‘significant’ head injury among other injuries.

He was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital and died of multiple injuries.

His helmet was later found nearby having come off shortly before the accident.

Forensic collision investigator Kevin Spiller said at the inquest into his death on Wednesday that had the helmet been on his head at the time of the impact, he could have survived the crash .

He said: “It would definitely have made it more likely to survive. The helmet had clearly come off before hitting the tree.

“It is clear the reason for the helmet coming off seems to be the adjustment to the strap.”

The inquest also heard how he had been exhausted in the months before his death, and that he had been sleeping as little as three hours a night.

Assistant coroner Nicholas Graham concluded that although the helmet could have played a part in causing his death it was impossible to know to what extent.

Ultimately, he concluded a death following a road traffic collision.