A motorcyclist killed in Raynes Park was thrown from his bike into the path of an oncoming lorry, an inquest has heard.

Stephen Caulder of North Cheam died on February 22.

Westminster Coroners’ Court heard that the engineer was knocked over when a car hit the back of his motorcycle underneath Raynes Park Rail Bridge.

Mr Caulder fell underneath the back wheels of a lorry travelling in the opposite direction. He died instantly.

The 47-year-old from St Margarets Avenue had stopped at a set of traffic lights on Kingston Road when his bike was struck from behind.

The court heard Mr Caulder, an experienced rider who repaired and collected motorcycles in his spare time, had no illegal drugs or alcohol in his body at the time of death.

PC Peter Traylor, an officer from the Met’s traffic investigation unit, said that investigations showed a car had driven into the back of Mr Caulder’s motorcycle at low speed, and while the bike had stayed in the southbound lane its rider had fallen into the other side of the road.

Mr Caulder’s brother and parents were in court to hear the coroner’s verdict.

Coroner Dr Shirley Radcliffe said that Mr Caulder’s death was a “great tragedy” and that he had “appeared to be driving faultlessly”.

She recorded that he died of multiple injuries after being hit by the lorry, which was driven in a “blameless fashion”.

Dilip Kumar Shah appeared in court to confirm he was the driver of a Toyota Picnic involved in the crash but declined to give his account of the accident.

The Croydon resident has been charged with driving a vehicle without due care and attention, and will appear at Kingston Magistrates’ Court on September 26.