An inquest has heard that three bikers from Kent died in a head-on road accident in Italy in September 2009 because they were travelling on the wrong side of the road.

BBC News reports that Michael Vercoe from West Kingsdown died, along with 63-year-old Colin Morrish and 60-year-old Wendy Pointer from Rochester when they were involved in a collision with a lorry in Mezzolombardo. Mr Vercoe's wife Faye was seriously injured in the road accident.

Mrs Vercoe was riding pillion on her husband's motorcycle. She told the inquest that the point at which the road changed from a dual to single carriageway was ‘not clearly marked’. However a report by Italian police said that the road did have adequate markings.

Mrs Vercoe said that as the two motorcycles overtook a car she looked up and saw a lorry heading towards them. She told the inquest that she placed her hand over her face and the next thing she remembered was waking up in hospital. Mrs Vercoe still walks with a stick.

The coroner sitting at the inquest at County Hall in Maidstone recorded a verdict of accidental death for all three victims of the road crash.

After the verdict, Mrs Vercoe said in a statement read by her solicitor that she and other relatives were ‘extremely disappointed’ with the verdicts.

‘We feel very strongly that there were problems with the road and that they undoubtedly contributed to Mike's accident,’ said the statement.

‘The fact the road has not been found to be a cause does not tally with the widespread media coverage at the time of the crash that the road was in fact dangerous – a view echoed by the local mayor,’ she added.

The accident occurred near a new tunnel that has a dual carriageway inside, but switches to single lanes outside.

Mr Vercoe had been on holiday in Italy at the time of his death. Friends said he had been ‘living the dream through the open road’.

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