Coroner Will Francis has ruled that 20-year-old Callan Eugene Herbert died after losing control of his motorcycle due to "inadvertency''.

While Mr. Francis did not say what was the cause of the accident, the Coroner's inquest yesterday heard Mr. Herbert was found to have three times the legal limit of alcohol in his blood at the time of his death around 11 p.m. on July 25 last year.

Witness Raquel Furbert told Mr. Francis that as she drove east on North Shore Road and approached the Radnor Road junction at 10.30 p.m., she saw a motorcyclist approaching at high speed and on her side of the road.

Ms Furbert said Mr. Herbert "seemed to lose control'' of the cycle as he drifted back into the westbound lane and struck two roadside entrance pillars to a private property.

She said Mr. Herbert "grazed'' the easternmost pillar then the cycle slammed into the right-hand one. Mr. Herbert then careened over the handlebars and hit the pillar head first.

An autopsy report found that the Shelly Bay resident to be otherwise healthy but died from massive internal head injuries including fractures to internal bones at the base of the skull. Four ribs were also fractured. The statement of Hewvonnie Brown was read in by investigator P.c. Carlmika Smith.

Mr. Brown said he saw Mr. Herbert pull out of Old Road in Hamilton Parish onto North Shore Road with a very wide turn at an estimated 45 kilometres per hour.

Following behind and headed west, Mr. Brown told Police he saw Mr. Herbert drift across the road and into the eastbound lane on at least two occasions.

He said the accident was during one such drift and an approaching car honked its horn prompting Mr. Herbert to take evasive action.

P.c. Smith told the court she was on duty that night and attended a party at Rocky Lane, Hamilton Parish, at 10.15 p.m. on a report of loud music. One "young man'' was asked to leave because of unruly behaviour. P.c. Smith did not identify the man but did describe his clothing in detail.

Minutes later she was dispatched to the scene of the Herbert accident. The inquest was conducted by Sgt. Phil Taylor who apologised to the Herbert family for the way in which it had been conducted.

During a break, Mr. Herbert's father had questioned Sgt. Taylor on why certain evidence was admitted -- which might not have been admitted in a criminal trial.

In addition, Mr. Herbert's father challenged the autopsy report's measurement which said his son was five feet, seven and a half inches tall. Sgt. Taylor told the court: "Before we conclude Your Worship, I wish to mention that we the Police and some witnesses have gone slightly astray with regard to evidence.

"I can categorically state that I do take issue with some of the evidence given. Mr. Herbert said he is five foot eight and he had to look up to his son.'' Sgt. Taylor added: "This is a discrepancy that should not be there. I apologise to Mr. Herbert and his family. Things like that should not have been said.'' Mr. Francis agreed: "Yes, there were some things which probably should not have been said and would be hearsay. We don't follow things as strictly as would be done in a criminal trial.

"The object of an inquest is not to lay blame,'' he continued. "That was changed by the present Government. The object is to decide who the deceased was and how he came to his death.''