Cyclist seriously hurt on same road where 5-year-old girl died

NEW SITE: The scene where a cyclist and car collided yesterday afternoon outside the Omanu Golf Club on Matapihi Rd.PHOTO/GEORGE NOVAK

A woman suffered serious injuries after a collision between a bike and car on Matapihi Rd yesterday - just two days after a 5-year-old girl was killed on the same road.

Emergency services were called to Matapihi Rd outside Omanu Golf Course about 1.30pm yesterday after a collision between the cyclist, travelling away from Bayfair, and a car happened at the entrance of the sports club.

People from the golf club ran out on to the road after hearing the cyclist screaming.

The woman lay motionless on the ground as St John arrived at the scene and took her to Tauranga Hospital.

Police also closed sections of the road.

The cyclist was initially described as being in a critical condition when she arrived at hospital but was then downgraded to a serious condition. She was in a stable condition last night.

Head of Western Bay road policing Senior Sergeant Ian Campion said a car being driven by a local man was exiting Omanu Golf Course when the collision took place.

The cyclist was riding on a shared cycle and pedestrian way.

Mr Campion said the driver of the vehicle initially left the scene of the crash but made contact with police later yesterday afternoon.

The collision occurred about 3km away from where Shinia Matehaere, 5, died on Saturday.

Shinia was riding her pink and white bicycle across Matapihi Rd from Waikari Rd on Saturday at about 1.20pm when she was in a collision with a ute.

Family and friends have been gathering at Waikari Marae for her tangi which will take place today.

Primary school children could be seen wandering up to the crash site yesterday, adding other trinkets to the flower pinwheel and present which already adorned the ground near where she was hit.

Shinia's parents, family and friends declined to talk to the Bay of Plenty Times yesterday.

Mr Campion said there was no update on that investigation.

"It's early days yet, police are still in the evidence gathering phase."

Mr Campion said there no link between the two incidents.

"When there are a number of incidents in a particular area, there is not necessarily cause for concern but it certainly does make us look at whether there are any issues that need to be addressed.

"But these two incidents are unrelated and the circumstances are different other than the fact they were car versus cyclists."

Matapihi resident Charlie Timutimu spoke out about the safety of the road after Shinia's death, saying the speed limit on the road had been a concern to residents for many years.

They had previously made their concerns known to council but had not heard back.

Tauranga City Council mayor Stuart Crosby said the council was looking into whether requests to lower the speed limit had been made and would have a report ready today.

The speed limit on the road is 70km/h.