overhanging plants to avoid accidents.

Poor visibility caused by an overgrown street light helped cause the death of a 37-year-old livery cycle rider on Harrington Sound Road, coroner Mr. John Judge was told during an inquest yesterday.

The problem was Island-wide and needed urgent attention, said Mr. Judge. Mr.

Judge decided David Clarke, an American working for Bermuda Cablevision, died accidentally.

Clarke had been drinking and was not a skilled rider, the hearing heard. He was overweight and this affected his balance.

He died from a fractured skull almost immediately after riding into the electric light pole near Arrowroot Lane on April 8.

The married Wisconsin resident had been in Bermuda for less than two weeks as project leader for a Cable Cops team, imported by Cablevision to check out abuses on its network.

Co-worker Mr. John Louis told how he and Clarke had gone drinking after playing golf, ending up in the Swizzle Inn.

He said his boss had more beer than him, plus a shot of tequila. "I didn't think at the time it was affecting his ability to drive. Dave never really did achieve a good skill level with the cycle. I think his weight gave him difficulty. He would have a tendency to swerve or lean.'' They ordered a pizza to be delivered to where they were staying and set off on their cycles.

"Suddenly I no longer saw Dave's headlight reflecting in my rear view mirror,'' said Mr. Louis.

Taxi driver Mr. Hensley George, who was in front of the bikes, said he turned his cab around when he heard a crash.

"I saw the driver of the cycle lying in the road with his helmet still on. He was lying in a pool of blood.'' One of his passengers, a nurse, felt for a pulse but she could not find one.

Ambulance workers and emergency staff could not revive Clarke, the hearing heard. Doctors later discovered he had drunk the equivalent of about eight small cans of beer a short time before dying.

P.c. Shaun Maybury, who investigated the crash, said Clarke had rented his Derbi cycle from Oleander Cycles, who found him to be confident on it.

Foliage obscuring a street light had caused poor visibility, adding to other factors including Clarke's alcohol consumption, minimal experience, large size and unfamiliarity with Bermuda's roads.

P.c. Maybury called on Belco and Agriculture and Fisheries to pay more attention to keeping street lights clear of plants.

Mr. Judge summed up: "This was a very tragic death which again highlights and emphasises the folly of consuming alcohol and proceeding to take control of any type of road vehicle whether motorised or not, especially in the case of persons who are not accustomed to using two-wheeled powered vehicles.

"There is far too much overhanging foliage obscuring not only street lights but traffic signs.

"Steps ought, as a matter of urgency, to be taken to have these items cut back and to have edges and overhanging branches kept well trimmed so that street lights perform the function for which they are designed and road traffic signs can be seen and appreciated.''