Teen Dies in A27 Motorcycle Crash, Inquest Reveals Tragic Details

A teenage girl tragically died after a motorcycle crash on the A27 in Salvington, West Sussex, with an inquest revealing road conditions and potential driver inexperience as contributing factors.

India Buchanan, a 17-year-old from Rustington, was riding pillion on a motorcycle driven by a 25-year-old man on November 18, 2022, just four days after her birthday. The pair were travelling westbound on the A27 at Crockhurst Hill when the rider lost control. An inquest at Horsham heard that India had been ice skating in Worthing earlier that evening and was on her way to a party in Havant. The coroner recorded the cause of death as a road traffic collision.

The inquest revealed that the road had signs of delamination, with a drop of 25mm, though this was deemed not significant enough to pose an immediate safety hazard. The motorcycle rider, Jay Thomas, initially claimed to have struck a pothole but later admitted to being unfamiliar with the road. Police investigations indicated he might have been travelling at speeds exceeding 40mph, though no conclusive evidence confirmed this. The road was resurfaced in 2023, a year after the incident.

India’s mother, Amanda Buchanan-Hills, paid tribute during the hearing, describing her daughter as “the kindest human being” with a distinctive laugh she misses daily. The coroner, Joanne Andrews, acknowledged the profound impact of India’s loss and highlighted her passion for motorcycling, noting that she had planned to become a motorcycle mechanic.