Motorcycle Pc crash inquest opens

Pc Shaw died at the scene of the crash in Bolton

A Greater Manchester policeman was thrown off his motorcycle after it hit a bump in the road during a training exercise, an inquest heard.

Allan Shaw, 33, was killed on Crompton Way, Astley Bridge, Bolton, on 19 July 2006 while taking part in a police training practice session.

Witness Ian Hurst told Bolton Crown Court the officer had been following two others when he was thrown off.

The road had been cleared for the training exercise, the court heard.

'Lose control'

After being thrown from his motorcycle he came to rest under a stationary lorry.

Ian Hurst, who witnessed the crash, told the inquest the road had been cleared for the police training exercise and that Pc Shaw was following two other colleagues on motorbikes when he got into difficulty.

He said: "There's a distinctive hump on the intersection from Mossbank Way to Crompton Way and the motorcyclist hit the beginning of the hump.

"The motorcycle became airborne and when it landed the rider was still on the bike, but he seemed to lose control of it and was thrown off."

Greater Manchester Police said Pc Shaw was riding a Honda Pan European ST 1300 motorcycle at the time of the incident. These vehicles are no longer used by the police motorcyclists.

The inquest is expected to continue until 8 December.