Accidental death verdict recorded in Irish rider Louis O'Regan's fatal Manx Grand Prix crash as coroner says misadventure judgement should not be applied
An inquest into the death of Irish road racer Louis O’Regan has recorded a verdict of accidental death following a fatal crash at the Manx Grand Prix in 2024.
The accident happened on the opening day of the event on the Isle of Man on August 18 at Kate’s Cottage.
From Waterford in the Republic of Ireland, Mr O’Regan, who was 43, sustained multiple injuries in the incident.
On Friday at Douglas Courthouse on the island, Deputy Coroner of Inquests Rebecca Cubbon, said the crash was not caused by rider error or any mechanical defect with his machine, but was due to contact with a wet patch on the course.
Describing Mr O’Regan as a very experienced competitor, the coroner said a verdict of misadventure could not be recorded in this instance because while Mr O’Regan would have been aware he was participating in an inherently risky sport, the cause of his accident could not be accepted as a ‘wilful risk’, and he could not have anticipated the road condition ahead and the impact it would have.
She thanked the deceased rider’s family for their ‘grace and composure’ throughout the inquest.
Two days of evidence were heard during the week, when the inquest was told a wet patch in the road contaminated with peat had caused the fatal accident.
Crash investigator Steffan Hoy said the surface of the road had been “extremely slippery under foot”.
The wet patch was located between double white lines in the centre of the road, believed to be caused by water seepage with peat contamination.
Fellow racer Jamie Williams crashed at the same part of the course before O’Regan’s accident.
The inquest heard evidence from marshals at the scene that more riders than normal were experiencing wobbles as they passed through that part of the course.
Work was undertaken following the fatal crash to address the issue ahead of any further racing, with further roadworks carried out last year on the same stretch.
Recommendations may be outlined in a report to the relevant bodies, but a final decision on this is being considered by Ms Cubbon.
An experienced competitor at the Manx Grand Prix, O’Regan made his debut in the 2013 Newcomers A Race, finishing 12th.
He recorded his personal best lap speed in the 2019 Junior Race, lapping the 37.73-mile Mountain Course at an average speed of 114.7mph.