A DAD died after hitting a massive pothole and catapulting off his motorbike into the path of an oncoming car.
Andrew Freakley’s death came after a Staffordshire council failed to repair a pothole that it had been aware of for more than five months.
The 43-year-old had been overtaking a van when he struck the pothole and was thrown in front of a car in Stoke-on-Trent last year.
He was riding his black Yamaha when the tragedy occurred on September 25 while making his way home to Meir.
Police said at the time that nothing could be done to save him and he died at the scene.
But the one-metre square pothole had been raised with the council twice in the preceding five months, reports MailOnline.
Stoke-on-Trent council had been made aware of the pothole on May 7 following an inspection and had been flagged again just wees before Andrew’s death.
It was eventually fixed 154 days after the inspection on October 8.
North Staffordshire coroner, Lindsey Tonks, said that despite travelling 10mph over the speed limit, Andrew had not been driving dangerously and was an “experienced rider”.
He was performing a “simple overtake manoeuvre” and the situation was “completely unavoidable” for the driver of the oncoming car.
“It’s clear from the evidence by the council that they’d identified this defect and its need for repair and it was aimed to be repaired within 45 days and there’s no dispute it didn’t happen within the timeframe,” she said.
“The collision with the pothole destabilised the motorcycle and Andy was unable to stabilise it and slid into an oncoming car and died as a result of fatal injuries.
“This was a terribly tragic incident on that day and I’m sorry the family has had to go through that.”
The Sun has contacted Stoke-on-Trent City Council for comment.
Andy’s heartbroken family paid tribute to the “loveable rogue with a heart of gold” following the incident.
“A loving son, father, brother, uncle, nephew, cousin, partner and friend.
“God has decided he’s got a job for you, son, in the heavenly garden above, instead of down here on earth.
“He wrapped you swiftly in his arms and flew you straight to heaven.
“Now, you can ride free and easy, knowing how much we loved you, and in return, you loved us. You will be deeply missed”.
“Always remembered in the cheeky stories shared together, with all our family and friends. Love always”.
Staffordshire Police said at the time that the driver of the car was not injured at had remained at the scene.
