A motorcyclist died after crashing into the back of a stationary car in a queue on a busy main road in Powys.

Robert Stephenson, 43, had "for reasons unknown" failed to see that the cars had come to a stop on the A483 between Llanbister and Camnant before colliding into the rear of a BMW, an inquest into his death heard.

Mr Stephenson, who was from Telford, died from his injuries because of the two-vehicle collision on Saturday, May 25.

An inquest hearing held in Pontypridd on Wednesday, June 5, was told that a BMW was travelling towards Newtown and had come to a stop in a queue of cars due to a vehicle waiting to turn right.

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An orange KTM motorcycle ridden by Mr Stephenson was also travelling in the same direction and is believed to have been following the BMW for around a mile.

The inquest was told that "for reasons unknown" Mr Stephenson had failed to see the queue of stationary cars and has collided with the rear of the BMW.

A post-mortem examination was carried out at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, with the cause of death given not provided "pending further investigation".

Senior Coroner Graeme Hughes said he was opening a formal investigation because he had "sufficient reason to suspect that Mr Stephenson's death is unnatural having resulted in injuries sustained in that collision".


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"Further evidence will need to be gathered of the circumstances surrounding Mr Stephenson’s death. Once that is received and disclosed then case management will be issued for the determination of the inquest when that will take place.

We will be engaging with Mr Stephenson’s family throughout the investigation.

"While those matters are tended to, we will adjourn that hearing. I pass on my condolences to Mr Stephenson’s family and friends."

Dyfed-Powys Police issued an appeal for witnesses and dashcam footage following the fatal crash at 12.40pm which closed the road for several hours.