A retired couple from Norfolk, England, died in Spain on September 11, 2023, during a motorbike tour when their vehicle lost control in heavy rain and was subsequently struck by a car and a lorry.
Kieron Haines, 68, and his wife Sharron, 65, were traveling on the A8 motorway near Llanes when the incident occurred. According to an inquest held in Norwich, the couple's motorcycle slid in the downpour, and as they lay injured on the road, they were hit by two other vehicles. Spanish authorities investigated the accident, determining that the road was in good condition and the couple were wearing appropriate safety gear. Kieron Haines, a retired fabricator, and Sharron Haines, a former secretary, were experienced motorcyclists who had traveled extensively in the UK and Europe. They had recently celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary.
The couple were part of an organized tour and had met other members on a ferry in Santander. The tour leader had advised riders to maintain the speed limit of 120 kph (75 mph) to stay together. However, heavy rain and traffic led to the separation of the group. The accident happened around 5:30 p.m. after the Haines had traveled approximately 60 miles.
Investigations by Spanish authorities revealed that the driver of the car involved had 6.3mg per ml of blood of THC, the active substance in cannabis. While England and Wales have a legal limit of 2mg per ml, Spain imposes sanctions for any detectable level of THC. The driver of the lorry involved in the collision had no drugs or alcohol in his system.
Fellow members of the tour expressed shock and horror at the deaths of the couple, who were described as friendly and likeable. Shelagh Gurney, a Norfolk county councillor and friend of the couple, conveyed her sadness, noting that Kieron and Sharron Haines were well-known within their local community and the BMW Club East Anglia, to which they belonged.
Official reports stated Kieron Haines died from multiple cranial fractures, loss of encephalic mass, and severe head trauma. His wife succumbed to the same injuries, also attributed to the traffic accident. The inquest concluded that the deaths were a result of a road traffic collision. The couple had two children, and a son, Ben, had recently posted a happy anniversary message to them on Facebook.
