Death-crash driver sobs

A motorcyclist died in a collision with a car on Dominion Rd. Photo / Richard Robinson

The driver who collided with a motorcycle on Dominion Rd, killing the rider, ran from his car sobbing and yelling: "I checked the road, I checked and it was clear," witnesses say.

The fatal accident at 1.30pm was the second serious crash on the road in Mt Eden yesterday, after an out-of-control car hit four others two hours earlier.

A female pillion passenger on the motorcycle was taken to Auckland Hospital with serious injuries.

Last night, business owners and residents were divided about whether a proposed $50 million council project to widen the busy arterial route would make the road safer.

Witness Mai Khaowpaug, who works at a nearby cafe, heard a huge bang and rushed outside to see what had caused it.

She saw two people lying on the ground, where she could also see blood.

The driver of the car was getting out of his vehicle.

"I saw this man crying, just sobbing and saying: 'I checked the road, I checked and it was clear and I didn't see anybody'," she said.

"He was just crying and saying that."

Ms Khaowpaug said ambulance staff performed CPR on the male motorcyclist for several minutes, before covering his body with a white cloth.

"The lady [passenger] was wearing her helmet and I could see the man lying on the ground with boots on," Ms Khaowpaug said.

The driver of the car did not need medical treatment but was said to be in shock.

Police said he was co-operating with investigators from the serious crash unit.

Dominion Rd was closed between George St and Valley Rd for nearly two hours as police officers and firefighters worked to clear the scene.

Auckland road policing manager Inspector Gavin Macdonald said all road users need to share the roads with care and be vigilant.

"A moment's carelessness or inattention on anyone's behalf can be tragic within seconds."

Yesterday's earlier crash happened about 100m away from the fatal accident.

A man has been charged with driving while incapable after he is alleged to have crashed into four parked cars near the intersection of Dominion Rd and Valley Rd.

Two people were taken to hospital for observation, and one woman had to be cut from her vehicle.

A witness said the accident happened when a car driver travelling on the flush median strip at a speed of at least 100km/h lost control after clipping a cyclist shortly before 11am.

The vehicle then hit several cars and narrowly missed pedestrians before crashing into a parked car.

Residents and business owners had conflicting views about whether new safety measures were needed on the busy road.

One man at the scene of the second crash said the whole street was "an accident waiting to happen".

He supported council proposals to transform the major arterial route. The changes would include providing four lanes for traffic and banning kerbside parking.

Others said moves such as removing kerbside parking would turn Dominion Rd into a highway.

Businessman Peter Nisbet - owner of Environ Printers & Fax Printers on the corner of Dominion Rd and Lisnoe Avenue - said: "I'd be completely against it. It'd be madness. Buses zip down this street already, and taking parks away would only get them going even faster."

Albert-Eden-Roskill councillor Cathy Casey, who opposes the multi-million dollar project, said pedestrians and cyclists needed to be more considered in the plans, rather than looking to build a "fast-track to the airport".

"I often see people cowering in the middle of the road because it's so scary to cross. People saying Dominion [Rd]'s an accident waiting to happen are right."

Save Dominion Rd campaigner Penny Hickey said widening the road would result in "even worse tragedies".

- Additional reporting: NZPA