There were tears of relief and sorrow as a man was cleared of careless driving in a motorcycle crash in which his friend died.
Pillion passenger Barry Adams died in the accident, on the A133 at Clacton, on July 16 last year.
A motorbike driven by his friend, Steven Gibbard, was involved in a collision with a car, which was turning right into a lay-by.
Both men were thrown from the Yamaha 600cc motorcycle.
Father-of-one Mr Adams was found dead under a lorry parked in the lay-by.
Mr Gibbard, 26, suffered a fracture to one hand, broken pelvis, damaged knee-cap, damage to his sciatic nerve and other cuts and bruises.
Yesterday, the family of 24-year-old diamond driller Mr Adams vowed to fight for the speed limit to be reduced on the road where their son died.
At the time of the accident, the speed limit was 60mph.
His mother, Yvonne Adams, of Kirby Road, Walton, said: "He was a happy-go-lucky boy, he loved his family and was devoted to his little girl, Charlene."
He had been with his partner, Cheryl Osborne, for six years.
Mrs Adams and her husband, Michael, are members of the road victims' charity Road Peace.
Mr Gibbard, of Merrilees Crescent, Holland, had denied a charge of careless driving.
Magistrates yesterday said they heard no evidence to suggest speed was a contributory factor and found him not guilty.
Published Friday August 27, 2004
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