A cyclist who died in tragic car accident had drugs in his bloodstream and was not wearing a helmet, an inquest heard

Dennis Patrick Michael Dovey of Alcock Avenue was killed after he fell off his bicycle in front of a car on the A614 at Ollerton.

An inquest heard a motorist swerved to avoid Mr Dovey as his car approached him near a bridge.

The motorist said he had been travelling from Nottingham to Ollerton when he noticed Mr Dovey cycling towards him on a footpath.

As they arrived at the bridge the kerb narrowed.

Coroner Miss Mairin Casey was told how Mr Dovey wobbled as he tried to negotiate the narrow kerb and then fell into the road, striking his head on the pavement.

Witnesses to the accident, including a GP tried to resuscitate him but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

A pathologist report read out at the inquest in Nottingham on Tuesday said tests showed Mr Dovey, 50 had traces of cannabis in his bloodstream at the time of the accident on May 15.

He had a history of mental health issues and drug abuse which had ‘loomed large’ in his daily life.

But mental health professionals said there was no suggestion he had thoughts of self harm.

Forensic scenes of collision investigator PC Colin Thomas said there was no evidence that the car had run over Mr Dovey, but had made contact with him as he fell.

It had swerved some distance to avoid him and no blame was placed on the driver.

The officer said had Mr Dovey been wearing a cyclist safety helmet it would probably have saved his life.

He added that in his experience of drivers who had tested positive for drugs, their balance and ability to judge distances were affected and they often had a false sense of confidence.

The coroner recorded a verdict that Mr Dovey died in a road traffic collision.

She warned cyclists of the dangers of riding under the influence of drugs and urged people to always wear a helmet.