Crash kills motorcyclist in Napier

Photo / File

Police say a Napier man died on impact when the motorcycle he was riding and a container truck collided in Meeanee yesterday.

Senior Sergeant Clint Adamson of the Eastern District Command Centre said the 42-year-old died after his Harley Davidson was in collision with a truck at the intersection of Meeanee and Tannery roads about 4.25pm. The Emmerson Transport container truck had been travelling west on Meeanee Rd and was turning right on to Tannery Rd when the collision with the motorcycle, which was travelling east on Meeanee Rd, occurred.

"As it made its right-hand turn it collided with the motorcycle."

Mr Adamson said the motorcyclist died "on impact" of the injuries he received. He was wearing a helmet at the time. The male truck driver and his sole passenger were uninjured and were speaking to police last night.

The Serious Crash Unit was at the scene yesterday evening talking to witnesses. It had begun an investigation and seized the motorcycle and truck.

Police were liaising with the crash victim's family last night, which included help from Victim Support.

The man's name wouldn't be released until all of his family were notified of the accident.

Hawke's Bay Road Policing Sergeant Kevin Stewart said the crash happened at a time when there was high traffic on Meeanee Rd. "It was just before rush hour. There were a lot of vehicles on the road. Meeanee Rd is a main thoroughfare which a lot of people use to get to and from work."

It was a "sizeable operation" to close the road in the wake of the crash, involving traffic police and civilian contractors.

Central Fire Communications shift manager Jan Wills said that two fire crews from Napier had attended the crash scene.

Meeanee Rd was closed from Willowbank Ave to Napier St, while Tannery Rd was closed where it meets Burness Rd. The road closure lasted about three hours. Mr Stewart said the truck driver had been with Emmerson Transport for some time and was considered experienced.

Yesterday's crash pushed the 2014 road toll for Gisborne and Hawke's Bay to 15.

There have been 248 fatal crashes on the country's roads this year.