Southern 100 marshal fatally injured by metal fencing after bike collision

Verdict of accidental death recorded at Wigan man's inquest

A warning that this story contains information which some readers may find upsetting.

A Southern 100 marshal who was killed during last year’s event was fatally injured by metal fencing which was being used to identify the edge of the course.

The inquest into the death of William Clarke, who was known as Liam, was concluded at Douglas Courthouse today (7 August).

The 66-year-old from Wigan died on the Castletown bypass during qualifying on 11 July 2023.

He was struck by the metal fencing he was stood between following a collision between riders Alan Connor and newcomer Andrew Smart as their bikes crossed the finish line.

Mr Connor’s bike veered out of control, after he missed the chequered flag, and hit the barriers, a tree and then a lamppost which caused it to split into pieces and send debris flying through the air.

The 50-year-old, from the Republic of Ireland, died at the scene.

At Douglas Courthouse yesterday (6 August) a verdict of misadventure was recorded at his inquest - you can find out more HERE.

‘Bomb blast’

Evidence from eyewitnesses who watched the incident unfold was read to the court today.

One spectator said he’d seen a ‘black blur’ as Mr Connor's bike hit the lamppost before watching Mr Clarke, who was positioned nearby, become ‘tangled up’ in the railings which had begun ‘concertinaing’.

He said he’d seen the marshal lift ‘six feet’ into the air adding: “This was all in a matter of seconds.”

Another spectator said he’d felt a ‘massive blast of warm air’ before seeing Mr Clarke in the air and then on the floor.

“It was clear he was deceased,” he told the court.

Describing the noise and heat at the scene as ‘intense’ the spectator added: “It made me picture a bomb blast.”

Mr Clarke suffered what a pathologist described as ‘devastating’ head, chest and spinal injuries as a result of blunt force trauma caused by multiple impacts with the fencing and road surface.

Restricted Area

The court heard Mr Clarke was marshalling at the position, known as The Pumphouse, alone on 11 July but he’d also been stationed there, with another marshal, the previous day.

His main purpose was ‘crowd control’ and to ensure no members of the public entered the restricted area.

Clerk of the Course Gilles Olley confirmed the area was reviewed following the double fatality and is now a prohibited area meaning no one can access it.

However he said that prior to the tragedy it hadn’t been noted as an area of concern adding: “In this instance that area had not been deemed to be high risk.”

All other restricted areas around the course were also subject to further review before the 2024 event took place.

Mr Clarke’s wife asked the clerk of the course if there could have been a better outcome for her husband if the metal barriers hadn’t been there at all.

“What would have happened without them? I just couldn’t say,” Mr Olley replied.

New Barriers

Clerk of the TT and MGP Course Gary Thompson also gave evidence at the inquest.

He said the metal barriers were not intended to be a safety measure and were being used – on the advice of the Department of Home Affairs – to differentiate between the course and the restricted area.

The court was told ACU Events had worked with an accident investigator following the incident and had now installed new plastic, water filled, safety barriers in place of the metal fencing as well as debris fencing.

The new structures are used at major motorsport events around the world and weigh 426 kilograms each when filled. 

Mr Thompson added that the new barriers would be more likely to stay in place if they were hit at high speed than any other type of fencing.

Accidental Death

Recording a verdict of accidental death Coroner of Inquests James Brooks said Mr Clarke would have little to no time to react to Mr Connor’s bike hitting the barriers, and the tree, before breaking apart on impact with the lamppost.

“It is at this point the disruption, in my mind, becomes devastation,” he added.

“The incident would have taken a matter of seconds if that.” - Coroner of Inquests James Brooks

Offering his condolences to Mr Clarke’s wife Coroner Brooks said despite the associated risks with motorsport events Mr Clarke was not undertaking an ‘inherently risky’ part of his role at the time of his death.

If you’ve been affected by any of the issues in this story there are details of local organisations that provide advice and support HERE.