A teenager who tragically died after crashing his off-road dirt bike into a car on a residential road, was only using the motorcycle after missing his usual lift to work, an inquest heard yesterday.

Lloyd Mitchell died on Wednesday, September 10, after he failed to stop at the give way lines of a crossroads near the Rye and collided with a Toyota Rav4, evidence showed.

The 18-year-old, who lived in Bowerdean Road, High Wycombe, had not been driving at an excessive speed but suffered a traumatic subarachnoid haemorrhage and died at the scene after he collided into the vehicle and his helmet came off.

Since his death his family and friends have maintained a constant vigil at the junction of Bassetsbury Lane and Chestnut Avenue and have coined the area as Lloyd’s Corner.

Following the emotional evidence of both the driver and passenger of the other car, his family paid tribute to everyone who attempted to save him.

His mother, Paula Nathan, said: “We are now blessed with the knowledge that he didn’t suffer and that he wasn’t on his own.

“I think we would all like to say a massive thank you to all who tried to help him at that time.

“It was important to hear the accounts of the other people but sad to hear how affected they have been since the accident too.

“All of the family and his friends will always remember Lloyd.”

Lloyd’s granddad added: “I think we were all affected by what the witnesses said today [Tuesday, December 9], we have all struggled since Lloyd’s death but we didn’t realised how painful it has been for everyone else involved.”

During the inquest, collision investigator PC Adrian White told the court the bike was not road legal and the front tyre which collided with the front-drivers side tyre of the Toyota had been marked as not for “Highway use”.

He said: “He failed to give way but what I would say is neither vehicle was travelling at an excessive speed.

“However, there is no evidence to suggest he comes to the junction, stops, and moves off again.

“In my opinion it is the mechanics of this collision which has lead to his death, he does not appear to be going at an excess speed but for whatever reason he overshot the junction.”

He added: “The bike was not road worthy and it should definitely not have been on the road at that time.”

Lloyd had only used the bike on this day after missing a lift to his work at the Biffa depot in Burnham and was believed to be travelling home after leaving work early because he felt unwell.

Giving evidence, the court heard how the other driver involved said she had not been able to drive since the accident and it all happened in a split second.

In her statement, Sandra Fotios said she remembered seeing a yellow coloured flash and a dark mass coming towards her.

The death was concluded officially as the result of a road traffic collision, and coroner Richard Hulett described it as a “harrowing and painful experience for all involved”.

Did you know Lloyd? Please leave your tribute below.