American motorcyclist killed in crash near Lake Wanaka

A 75-year-old Californian man killed in an accident on State Highway 6 near Lake Wanaka in the South Island yesterday has been named as Norman de Groot.

The motorcycle he was riding collided with a car about 1.30pm and he died at the scene.

Mr de Groot was on a tour of New Zealand, Wanaka's Sergeant Aaron Nicholson told NZPA today.

He was riding toward Makarora with a Wanaka motorcyclist when the crash happened. The cause of the crash was still being investigated but it appeared Mr de Groot was on the wrong side of the road.

The occupants of the car, a man and a woman, were unhurt.

The road was closed to traffic for more than three hours.

- NZPA