SCHOOLBOY cyclist Louis Eldridge was killed by an oncoming car as a result of making "a bad split second decision," an inquest heard today.

Rednock school student Louis, 14, from Newport, near Berkeley, was riding his BMX - which had no brakes - southbound on Station Road in Wanswell at 7.35pm on May 20 when he turned into the path of a silver VW Polo driven by Kieran Palmer, the inquest at Gloucestershire Coroner’s Court was told.

He suffered major injuries and was taken to Bristol Children's Hospital and passed away the following day at 1.30pm.

Although the inquest was told that the speed of the car - 50mph in a 60mph limit - played no part in the tragedy the coroner said she would ask the highways authority to review the limit and decide if it was still appropriate.

The inquest heard that CT scans revealed that due to the degree of brain swelling and bleeding he was unlikely to have survived.

The court heard that Mr Palmer was driving his silver Volkswagen Polo down Station Road towards the tunnel of the railway bridge at about 50mph when he saw three cyclists riding on the left hand side.

Mr Palmer said he slowed down and moved onto the other side of the road to overtake as it was clear of oncoming traffic.

He recalled a boy swerving across in front of his car and as he slammed the brakes and tried to turn out the way the boy collided with him.

"There was nothing I could do," he said.

He was driving with his sister, Rhian Savage, as passenger and she yelled out as the cyclist appeared in the road but the rider was too close to avoid, the inquest was told.

He said he was driving at 50mph at the time.

Louis' father, Michael Eldridge, asked if he felt this was an appropriate speed and Mr Palmer replied: "Yes, because I slowed down to overtake."

A statement by Louis' friend, Summer Campbell, said: "I heard a car coming.  We moved to the left but Louis moved to the right.  Louis had no brakes on his bike, he would use his feet to stop.

"We weren't wearing helmets or high-visibility clothing.  Louis tried to cross the road, I yelled 'stop'.  He stopped, saw the car and tried to turn back but he knew what was going to happen."

Sgt David Parry, collision investigator from Avon and Somerset Constabulary, said he arrived on the scene at 8.30pm.

He confirmed that Mr Palmer correctly moved onto the other side of the road to give the cyclists as much room as possible. He confirmed speed was not a causative factor, nor were there any mechanical issues with the car or the bicycle.

He recognised the BMX bike did not have brakes but he said "legally it should not have been on the road but the fact it had no brakes would not have changed the outcome.

"Louis was riding with two friends. They were riding single file.

"Mr Palmer saw the cyclists so, seeing the road ahead clear, he steered into the other lane. As Mr Palmer approached with the cyclists on his left hand side, Louis pulled into the road. Mr Palmer swerved to the right but Louis had already collided with the car.

"There is no evidence to suggest Mr Palmer was driving in any other way but normal. The Highway Code says a driver should give a cyclist as much room as possible and that it what Mr Palmer did.

"Louis failed to look round, I don't know why but he chose to cross the road when he did and a collision was unavoidable," he said.

Michael Eldridge commented that his son was not here to speak as to why he crossed the road and asked Sgt Parry if he felt a 60mph speed on that stretch of road was appropriate.

Sgt Parry replied that "speed was not a causative factor in this case due to the proximity Louis was to the car".

Senior Coroner Katy Skerrett said she accepted the medical cause of death as traumatic brain injury following a road traffic accident.

"Louis was an experienced cyclist on a route he knew. He was cycling with two friends, he was in the middle. They were free-wheeling down left hand side.

"As the VW Polo was overtaking the other cyclist shouted a warning that there was a car but Louis, for reasons that remain unknown chose to cross the road and turned into the path of the VW Polo at the same time the Polo was overtaking to give the cyclists space.

"Mr Palmer pressed the brakes but due to the proximity of the car and how Louis turned a collision was inevitable.

“Mr Palmer was driving within the speed limit and overtaking in the correct manner so I record a Road Traffic Accident as cause of death.

"I do have some concerns whether 60mph is an appropriate speed limit for that stretch of road and I will suggest the highways carry out a review but I will take the next 10 days to decide whether to issue a 'Prevention of Future Deaths' letter.

"However in Louis case I am satisfied speed was not a factor Louis made a split second bad decision leading to tragic consequences," she concluded.