Motorcyclist Craig Ritchie died when he collided with a truck which was turning right. Photo / George Novak, Supplied
Craig Ritchie lived for his family and his passion for riding motorbikes.
The 34-year-old was riding his beloved Harley-Davidson V-Rod when he collided with a 10-tonne Nissan truck and trailer unit on State Highway 2 turning right into Gill Lane.
He was heading home after visiting friends in Munro Rd about 8.10pm on Friday.
Despite receiving CPR, Mr Ritchie died at the scene after suffering serious chest injuries.
The truck driver, also a Tauranga man, was uninjured.
Mr Ritchie's devastated family are still reeling from his death.
His partner of six years, Samantha Neilsen, 28, said Mr Ritchie, who was nicknamed Stitch, was her best friend.
"Family always came first with Craig, especially his three daughters, whom he adored, and life without him will never be the same," she said.
Ms Neilsen said that on Friday night, after putting the children to bed, she "waited and waited" for Mr Ritchie to turn up, as it was his usual practice to kiss his daughters goodnight.
Leyla, 5, Abbie, 4, and 11-month-old Violet, who Ms Neilson says "is the spitting image" of her father in his baby photo, "keep asking for their daddy", she said.
Ms Neilsen said she took some comfort in the fact her partner died while he was doing something he loved.
"Craig loved riding and he was passionate about anything to do with motorbikes and rode every day, no matter what the weather was like. He was a patched member of Rebels Motorcycle Club.
"It was a real social thing for him and he loved the camaraderie he got from being in the club. Craig loved nothing better than riding to a mate's place for a coffee and a chat."
Ms Neilsen said her partner had a huge group of friends from all walks of life, was a talented qualified tattooist, and had been in the process of setting up his own tattooing business at an industrial unit in Windermere.
He was also a qualified chef and bricklayer, and had worked as a dairy farmer in the past.
"Craig could turn his hand to most things, and he had a wonderful singing voice and would often break out into song while doing a tattoo," she said.
It has been a double tragedy for Mr Ritchie's parents, who lost their 32-year-old daughter Kelly to cancer seven years ago.
His parents told the Bay of Plenty Times no-one expected to outlive their children.
"We've lost both my children. Kelly and Craig were only two years apart in age when they died and we think about Kelly every day. It's just not fair. We keep thinking Craig is going to walk up our driveway and ask to borrow the lawnmower," the couple said.
"Craig was never an angel but he was a very loving son, and he loved his family and he never got over Kelly's death. We will all miss him so much."
Mr Ritchie's body will lie at Roxanne Place, Windermere, until Tuesday morning, when a motorcade of mourners will ride and drive through Tauranga and Mount Maunganui streets before a private burial at Pyes Pa Cemetery. Western Bay highway patrol Sergeant Nigel Ramsden said police were still keen to talk to anyone who saw the Nissan truck or the motorcycle near SH2 and Gill Lane around the time of the crash. Anyone with information should call Tauranga police on (07) 577 4300.
Fatal crashes on Western Bay roads in 2014
October 22: Karanbir Singh, 19, the car he was travelling in crashed with the Tauranga mobile library on Welcome Bay Rd.
August 2: Jasmine Clothier, 17, killed in a head-on collision with another car near the summit of the Kaimai Range.
July 24: Peter Curnow, 78, killed in a head-on crash on State Highway 2.
June 3: Roy Clifford Baxter, died from injuries suffered in a head-on crash on the Kaimai Range.
May 30: Jasnoor Kaur, 8, died in the same head-on smash.
May 3: Tracey O'Brien, 26, head-on smash near Te Puna.
April 9: Kelly Sinclair, 25, found dead in her crashed Audi in Whakamarama.
March 28: Aterea Moke, crossed centreline on his motorbike on SH33 near Paengaroa.
March 9: Shannon Wall, crossed centreline in Te Puke, hit another vehicle.
February 15: Chris Solomann, 61, collided with concrete barrier near Domain Rd.
February 7: Gordon Walker, 77, lost control, and had a head-on smash near Kauri Point Rd.
Six people were treated, with one in serious condition at Tauranga Hospital.