Family mourns avid biker

Shane John Heaven, 42, died when his motorcycle collided with a truck on Meeanee Rd, near Napier, on Tuesday.

The man who died when his motorcycle collided with a truck in Meeanee on Tuesday, was a son of the founders of Heaven's Bakery, and has been described as a keen rider and "jack of all trades".

The 42-year-old, Shane John Heaven, Napier, was killed when his Harley Davidson collided with a container truck that was turning into Tannery Rd, off Meeanee Rd, about 4.30pm on Tuesday.

The police Serious Crash Unit is investigating the crash, which left the male truck driver and his passenger uninjured.

Mr Heaven was the son of Graham and Denise Heaven, founders of Heaven's Bakery chain which has six stores in Hawke's Bay.

His older brother and sole sibling, baker Jason Heaven, said the family was reeling after the accident.

"It's still raw for us. It's a real shock, and very, very surreal."

The family was taking time out in the wake of Mr Heaven's sudden death, although the Heaven's Bakery stores throughout the region were operating as normal. "We've got an awesome team helping us out."

Jason Heaven described Mr Heaven as a carefree man, who had been a motorcycle enthusiast all his life.

"He was very easygoing and easy to get along with. He loved his motorbikes. He was very handy, always fixing a bike or tinkering with motors - he was a jack of all trades. He'd go on trail rides with me and my kids out on the farm."

Mr Heaven was very fond of his Harley Davidson, which he owned for a number of years.

Before that, he owned a Triumph, and he was an avid dirtbike rider during his youth in Taradale. He was good with his hands and put his DIY skills to good use, helping out with the family business, by doing maintenance and deliveries at Heaven's Bakery's Greenmeadows store.

He spent his whole life in the region and, rather than seek formal education, "learned by doing". He didn't have a partner or children, but was loved by his three nephews and niece. His funeral is on Saturday.

Hawke's Bay Road Policing Sergeant Kevin Stewart said police were keen to speak to anyone who had seen the motorcycle or the Emmerson Transport container truck either on Meeanee Rd or in the area prior to the crash on Tuesday.

"We are appealing to anyone who was driving in the area at the time to contact us, so we can establish the movements of both vehicles before the crash occurred. There was quite a bit of traffic on the road at this time so any information we can get from other drivers would be valuable."

Anyone with information about the accident should contact Mr Stewart at Hawke's Bay Police on 06 831 0700.