'Happy go lucky' teen died in horror crash on motorbike he received for 18th birthday

Much-loved Troy Hardy lost control of the bike on a dual carriageway

A popular teenager tragically died after losing control of a motorbike he received for his 18th birthday days earlier.

Much-loved Troy Hardy was described as 'happy go lucky' by his grieving family, who say he always had a smile on his face.

Emergency services attended the A629 Ovenden Road in Halifax, West Yorkshire, following a collision involving Troy's Hanway 125cc motorcycle.

An inquest yesterday (April 24) heard how Troy was riding in the direction of the town centre when his front wheel hit the central reservation of the dual carriageway, before he and the vehicle hit a metal pole.

Troy was sadly pronounced dead at the scene with his injuries unsurvivable, Yorkshire Live reports.

The incident took place on August 29 last year - less than three weeks on from Troy's 18th birthday on August 12.

In a statement, Troy's mum said her son had loved motorbikes and saw the present as his 'pride and joy'.

He had worked hard and saved money to pay for the motorbike insurance and had passed his motorcycle compulsory basic training in February that year.

"Troy believed in living life to the fullest," she said. He had enjoyed going to concerts and holidays and was very close to his brother, Harry.

On the day of the tragedy, Troy, from Halifax, was on the way to a bike meeting in Mytholmroyd and was being followed along Ovenden Road towards Halifax by his brother Harry who was driving a Renault Clio.

Troy had lost control on a 'sweeping' left hand bend but a police investigation was unable to determine why he had lost control. The collision happened around 500m from the Ovenden Way crossroads.

Harry had recalled seeing the rear of the motorbike 'shudder' and saw the brake light come on before the collision. He had seen the bike's front wheel detach from the chassis.

A car driver said the motorbike appeared to 'wobble' shortly before the accident. Prior to the crash, Troy was seen to be riding 'normally', the inquest was told.

Forensic collision investigator Stephen Gardner said the motorbike was 10 days old and free of any defects. The conditions on the day were said to be fine, sunny and clear.

Mr Gardner was unable to determine what had caused Troy to lose control, but said 'rider error' was a possibility given Troy's inexperience. He said it was possible that Troy had been distracted or had a lapse in concentration.

Assistant coroner Charlotte Keighley, who was close to tears at the conclusion of the inquest, said that on the day of the accident Troy had been 'riding responsibility' and had been wearing a helmet and protective clothing.

She said it had not been possible to establish the definitive cause of the collision or any others factors that might have contributed to it. The coroner offered her condolences to family and friends of Troy, many of whom attended Bradford Coroners' Court for the inquest hearing.

She said: "It is absolutely clear to all who have attended this inquest how special and how loved Troy was. To lose a child at 18, as parents, it is incomprehensible in circumstances such as this. I do express my heartfelt condolences to you all."