A YOUNG biker who crashed into a barrier at Ipswich port was left on the ground to die.Police are today appealing for witnesses to the crash after it was believed a number of people ran away from the scene – leaving the man dying by the bike.

By Jessica Nicholls

A YOUNG biker who crashed into a barrier at Ipswich port was left on the ground to die.

Police are today appealing for witnesses to the crash after it was believed a number of people ran away from the scene – leaving the man dying by the bike.

The accident happened at around 10.45pm yesterday at Orwell Quay, at the barrier near to the Neptune Marina reception building.

Paramedics were called to the scene and the 20-year-old rider from the Ipswich area was taken to Ipswich Hospital. He had suffered serious head injuries and died in the early hours of today.

Police have spoken to management at Associated British Ports at Ipswich, and officials at the Health and Safety Executive.

A spokespeople for the HSE was unavailable for comment today, but Robert Smith, manager at ABP said he understood police had informed the HSE about the accident on port land.

He said: "As the incident is currently subject to police investigation, all I can say is that I was very sorry to hear that there has been a tragic accident in which a young man lost his life."

Inspector Mike Hinshelwood at Ipswich Police said the youngster had not been wearing a crash helmet when the accident happened.

The bike was described as being for off-road use, and it is believed it could have been one that had originally been scrapped, but had been put back together again.

Today the only reminder of the tragedy is the yellow outline of the bike lying around 50 yards from the barrier.

Police have launched an accident investigation, and officers were today at the scene measuring distances between where the bike came to rest and the barrier.

The industrial area is near a building site, well away from any of the major pubs and restaurants on the waterfront. Although youngsters often congregate in cars on a nearby car park during the summer, the barriers normally stop people venturing any further along the quay.

A spokeswoman for Ipswich police said it was rare to hear complaints about disturbances from youngsters in that area.

She said: "We believe that there were people in the area at the time of the accident and we are urging those people to come forward."

Anyone with information should contact Pc Bryan Scanlon from Suffolk traffic police on 01473 613500.