Jake Foster inquest: Biker died in A406 South Woodford crash

Jake Foster, 33, died on the eastbound A406 in South Woodford, near Charlie Brown’s Roundabout, on August 6, 2023.

An inquest on Monday (February 5) heard he fell off his black Yamaha MT07, headfirst into the central reservation, while his bike continued down the road.

The crash caused a six-car pile-up, to which nine ambulance crews and a helicopter crew were scrambled.

Witnesses said Jake was part of a group of bikers, all attempting wheelies as they sped through busy traffic.

Coroner Graeme Irvine has written to the Metropolitan Police, asking whether changes are needed to the policing of motorbike activity in the area, to prevent future similar deaths.

“Had Mr Foster caused the death of somebody else, the nature and quality of his driving would almost certainly constitute an offence of manslaughter or dangerous driving,” he said.  

Mr Foster's accident caused a six-car pile-up, leading to gridlock on the A406 as nine ambulance units and a helicopter were scrambled to the scene. The tailbacks were captured on a TFL traffic camera (Image: TFL)

A “beautiful human”

The inquest heard Jake, a courier from Hemel Hempstead, was known to police and was carrying cannabis and a can of CS spray when he crashed.

He had cannabis in his system at ten times the amount which would cause impairment and had sought help five years earlier for cannabis dependence.

Medical records showed he had been involved in a string of prior road collisions.

At the time of his death, he was awaiting assessment for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

A crowdfunding webpage, which raised almost £9,000 towards his funeral costs, said Jake, nicknamed Klotz, “lived and cared for his nan”.

Contributors called him a “beautiful human” and “the most loving and amazing man”.

But his family did not provide any tribute or statements to East London Coroner's Court, based in Walthamstow, and did not attend the inquest.

An inquest at East London Coroner's Court heard how witnesses saw Mr Foster and other bikers speeding and attempting wheelies, before he fell off his motorcycle and flew into a central reservation (Image: Charles Thomson)

“They flew past”

Eyewitness Rabia Siddique saw “nine or ten bikes going really fast in-between the traffic”.

Rebecca Boultwood, who also saw the gang, said Jake was “doing more than the speed limit of 50mph” as she watched him attempt a wheelie.

“They were all doing wheelies,” said a third witness, Billy Carter. “They were all riding quite fast. They flew past me.”

After Jake’s wheelie, said Mr Carter, “I’ve seen him veer to the right and his head hit the metal reservation.”

“The whole thing happened within a click of the fingers,” said Ms Boultwood.

PC Chrissie Stanley wrote in her statement: “Immediately upon my arrival I observed a small group of motorcycle riders who had stopped their motorcycles.

“They remained for a very short period of time before leaving the scene. I did not have contact with them but was notified by other officers that they had made attempts to speak to them but they did not want to engage.”

Please pray for all caught up in whatever awful thing has happened on the A406 eastbound in South Woodford. It seems very bad. All traffic nearby obviously gridlocked. 🙏

— Elizabeth Lowson (@elizabethlowson) August 6, 2023

“Never seen such damage”

Paramedics arrived within three minutes but found Jake in cardiac arrest.

He had severe head injuries and was bleeding from his ears and mouth.

After unsuccessful interventions, he was pronounced dead.

An autopsy at the East Ham Public Mortuary found multiple bleeds on his brain.

PC Michael Carroll said: “I have never seen such damage to a motorcycle helmet.”

Jake had fractures to his head and spine, injuries to his shoulder and torso, and a ruptured liver.

Yeah it was bad, and drew in a lot of attention. I feel sad for the lad under the tent. The roads empty and that’s his life there. It’s gut wrenching.

— The TTC Beard (@Gary_Rozanski) August 6, 2023

Prior crashes

Medical records showed he had suffered numerous previous bike crash injuries.

He broke his foot in 2015, his collarbone in 2019 and his hand in July 2022.

In October 2022, he lacerated his knee and needed debridement (a skin graft).

In November 2022, he sustained another broken collarbone.

Weeks before his death, in late June 2023, a nurse recorded that his knee wound was “opening”.

“He admitted to the nurse that he had been riding on the back of his friend’s bike as he was bored, keeping his leg straight as advised by the hospital,” said Mr Irvine.

“He was warned against this and told that it would irritate the healing of the wound.”

Mr Irvine gave a narrative verdict, saying Jake drove “at high speed” whilst “intoxicated” and “undertook a wheelie and lost control”.

“Mr Foster died from catastrophic traumatic injuries sustained when he collided with the central reservation,” he said.

“This is a tragic case. I would like to offer my sincere condolences to his friends and family for their loss.”