Cycling victim 'a much loved wife, mother, sister, aunty'

Kay Wolfe. Photo / Supplied

The family of a woman cyclist who died this morning after being struck by a car in the Waikato on Sunday say they are devastated by her death.

Kay Heather Wolfe, 45, of Gordonton was one of 10 cyclists from the Morrinsville Wheelers Cycling Club travelling in a group along the Morrinsville-Walton Rd when a car driven by a 23-year-old woman crossed the centreline on a corner and crashed into the group.

Fellow cyclists Mark Andrew Ferguson, 46, and Wilhelm Muller, 71, died at the scene while Ms Wolfe was taken to Waikato Hospital by ambulance in a critical condition.

In a statement issued this afternoon, Ms Wolfe's family said she was "a much loved wife, mother, sister, aunty and friend to hundreds of people".

They thanked staff at Waikato Hospital for looking after her.

"Kay's husband Roger would particularly like to thank all those people who have and are offering support to him and their three children."

Ms Wolfe's death takes to five the number of cyclists killed on New Zealand's roads in the last five days, including the death of 27-year-old Jane Mary Bishop who was hit and killed by a truck on Tamaki Rd last night.

Acting Waikato road policing manager, Senior Sergeant Jeff Penno, said Ms Wolfe's death meant Sunday's crash was the second three person road fatality in the Waikato this year, after the loss of three young people on SH2 at Maramarua on September 7 when a car and a ute collided.

"We've also had four double fatalities and people will be aware that the Waikato has suffered seven deaths resulting from crashes over five days.

"The types of crashes over those days have covered a wide spectrum of victims from cyclists to motorbike riders, a truck driver and occupants of cars, but some common factors have emerged with speed, driver inexperience and alcohol all factors.

"The reality is we now have seven families who will have loved ones missing this Christmas."

Mr Penno said a number of strategies were in place to ensure a highly visible police presence on Waikato roads this summer but enforcement was only part of the solution.

"We need the public to say enough is enough, we need attitudinal change in regards to complying with basic road rules such as watching your speed, keep to the left, avoid alcohol and drugs and stick to the conditions of your graduated driver licences.

- NZPA