What started as a routine motorcycle ride ended in disaster and life-long consequences.
On a wet and misty evening in Devon, two bikers’ lives collided—literally—in a horrific crash that left one of them permanently disabled and the other behind bars.
This isn’t just a story about a crash; it’s a sobering reminder of how a single reckless decision on the road can forever change lives.
Reckless Overtake Leads to Devastating Head-On Collision
On March 9, 2023, Kathryn Goff, a 52-year-old motorcyclist from Exeter, was riding her Kawasaki along the A3052 from Sidford to Colyton.
Despite poor visibility, fog, and slippery road conditions, she made the fatal choice to overtake an RAC recovery van.
That decision put her directly into the path of an oncoming Honda motorbike, resulting in a violent head-on crash.
The Moment Captured on Camera
Goff’s helmet camera recorded the entire ride, capturing not only the crash but also her erratic behavior leading up to it.
The footage revealed her frequently wiping rain from her visor and blasting music during the 10-mile journey from work.
It also showed repeated violations of traffic laws, including overtaking on double white lines and speeding up to 53mph in a 30mph zone.
Michael Wakefield’s Life Shattered
The other rider, Michael Wakefield, suffered catastrophic injuries.
He was thrown into a roadside ditch, sustaining a brain bleed, lung and chest trauma, and serious damage to his right hand.
Most devastating of all, his right leg had to be amputated due to the severity of the injuries.
Speaking in court, the caretaker shared how the crash destroyed his life.
He’s now had to move away from his family into a bungalow in Seaton to adapt to life with a disability.
Courtroom Consequences and Sentencing
During the trial, prosecutors emphasized the dangerousness of Goff’s riding, especially given the harsh weather.
Her behavior behind the handlebars that day, they argued, was completely irresponsible.
Goff, who had only held her motorcycle license for two years and had previously served in the Armed Forces, admitted to causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
The judge sentenced her to 20 months in prison and disqualified her from driving for four years.
A Complex Legal and Personal Situation
Goff’s defense attorney, Hollie Gibery, admitted that even Goff couldn’t fully explain why she was driving so recklessly that day.
It was also revealed that Goff, who is due to begin gender transition treatment in the autumn, will serve her sentence in a male prison facility.
The Aftermath and Police Reflection
Both bikes were destroyed, and the RAC van involved suffered body damage.
Devon and Cornwall Police reviewed the helmet cam footage and reported “numerous breaches of the Highway Code.”
Officer Alan Kennedy, who led the investigation, described the crash as “entirely avoidable” and stressed that Goff’s actions fell well below the standard expected of any road user.
A Stark Warning to All Road Users
“This case should stand as a powerful reminder,” said Officer Kennedy, “that every move we make behind the wheel—or on a bike—can have tragic and irreversible consequences.
What might seem like a quick overtake could change lives forever.”