A teenager who was cycling in the middle of a road with no lights, no helmet and listening to music on his phone was killed in a late night smash, an inquest heard.
Bailey Paul Sutcliffe, 16, borrowed a friend's bike to cycle back to his house when a Ford Fiesta hit him on an unlit stretch of road, the Manchester Evening News reports .
Tragically medics were unable to save him, and he died from a traumatic head injury.
Police and a coroner ruled that the driver of the Fiesta could not have avoided colliding with Bailey, whose bike had no working lights.
The teenager was wearing dark clothing and was cycling in the middle of the road as he listened to music on his phone.
His family authorised a "substantial" number of organ donations after the tragedy, meaning he potentially saved several lives.
No family members were present and no witnesses were called at the hearing at Rochdale Coroner's Court this morning.
A number of statements were read out, including from the driver involved and Bailey's mum Leighanne.
She said the avid Manchester United fan was training to become a barber - something he enjoyed and was passionate about. He also enjoyed Thai Boxing and listening to trance music.
On the night of Thursday, February 21, Leighanne dropped Bailey off at a friends' house in Littleborough, where he stayed for several hours.
She was told he was heading home shortly before 11pm and she believed he was going to walk back home to Milnrow.
Bailey had, in fact, borrowed his pal's Carrera bike.
It did have lights, but they were not charged and were not working.
Bailey was not wearing reflective clothing or a helmet and may have been under the influence of alcohol, the inquest heard.
The driver of the Fiesta said he had been at the The Victoria snooker club in Littleborough and was also heading towards Milnrow down Willdhouse Lane in Smithybridge.
He said in his statement he had his full beam headlights on while travelling along the 50mph stretch, but dipped them as he went around a bend as a car was coming the other way.
The driver said be hit his brakes after one of his passengers said they thought they saw a cyclist.
He said he believes he only had 'half a second' to react after seeing Bailey himself.
Emergency services were called, and, upon hearing news of the accident and fearing he was involved, Bailey's mum raced to the scene.
Bailey was taken to the Royal Oldham Hospital. Despite medics' best efforts, he could not be saved. He was pronounced dead shortly after midnight on February 22.
A post-mortem ruled his caused of death was a head injury.
The driver, who stopped after the collision, provided a negative breath test. A drugs screening also came back clear.
In the report, Detective Constable Edward Lister said: "He had no lights or helmet.
"The area was very dark with limited visibility.
"He was wearing dark clothing with no reflective material. He was described as being intoxicated when he started his journey.
"A witnesses said his phone was playing loud music and CCTV suggests he was cycling in the centre of the southbound carriageway."
After analysing distances and reaction times, the officer said: "I am of the opinion that even if [the driver] had recognised Mr Sutcliffe as an immediate hazard at the first available opportunity, there was insufficient time for him to react and therefore the collision was unaviodable."
"He [Mr Sutcliffe] placed himself in a vulnerable position by cycling without lights or other safety equipment and by cycling in the centre of an unlit road."
Assistant Coroner Michael Salt recorded a conclusion that Bailey died as the result of a road traffic collision.
He said: "I have no reason to defer from the findings of the police in this case.
"Bailey Sutcliffe borrowed a friends' bicycle - it appeared to have lights on but they weren't charged.
"He may have seen them and thought they were working - we just don't know.
"He was playing music which will have also affected his perception of traffic.
"Having been struck from behind he will have very quickly sustained the head injury and been unaware of what was happening, certainly that's my perception of events.
"These things have been repeated many times - but if you are going to cycle you must always wear a helmet, you must comply with the highway code, not cycle under the influence of alcohol and always use a cycle path if available.
"I say that with no criticism of Bailey, as he was just 16 years-old.
"I say that to try and avoid other parents having to suffer and going through what Bailey's parents went through."
