Hawke's Bay's 'awful' 24 hours: Woman dead after crash and cyclist hurt after being hit by train

A cyclist is seriously injured after being hit by a train on Chatham St, Napier. Photo / Paul Taylor

An "awful" 24 hours for emergency services in Hawke's Bay left a woman dead, a man badly injured in hospital and police pleading for lockdown compliance.

The woman died after a car and a truck collided on Berry Rd, Te Pohue, about 8pm on Wednesday.

Then, about 10.30am on Thursday, a cyclist was hit and dragged underneath a train near Chatham St, Napier.

Police Inspector Dave Archibald said he could not confirm whether either incident had involved essential trips, but the fact emergency services personnel had to break their bubbles to try to save both lives showed the importance of remaining at home when possible.

Archibald said police, in particular, had noticed the lockdown, now more than a week old, was increasingly being flouted by younger Hawke's Bay residents.

"I don't know the circumstances of those killed and injured in the accidents, or the specific reasons for them being out," Archibald said.

"But in terms of using your vehicle, you should only be using your vehicle to go to get essential supplies or services or medical services, or if you are an essential worker to get to and from work."

The circumstances of the fatal Berry Rd crash would be investigated by the Serious Crash Unit.

Investigations were also under way into how a male cyclist was hit by a train at the Waghorne St crossing in Ahuriri.

He was taken to Hawke's Bay Hospital in a critical condition.

St John Ambulance, along with two rapid response vehicles were called to the scene, while Fire and Emergency NZ spokesman Murray Dunbar said two fire trucks from Napier were also called.

The cyclist was stuck under the train when they arrived, Dunbar said.

A witness said she raced to the scene after she heard the train's horn blasting "on and on".

"I'm a health professional and I could hear the horn going solid because everything's so quiet at the moment and I thought 'that can't be good'."

"I went down to see if I could help and they were under the train - it was awful."

A Hawke's Bay District Health Board spokeswoman said the man remained in a serious condition in hospital on Thursday afternoon.

The train comes to a stop near Napier Port. Photo / Paul Taylor

Archibald said the role police were trying to play during lockdown was to "engage, educate, influence."

"We are doing our best to inform people to keep them safe and healthy," he said.

"It is getting more and more challenging as there are some people who don't respect the law anyway.

"And sadly the 20-29 age group seem to be our prominent people who are flouting the advice."

Archibald added: "We are finding our way. Things are being refined every day. It is a new situation, so we are having to evolve every day."