Man dies during hill climb event

File photo / NZ Herald

A 59-year-old motorcyclist has died in an accident at the annual Cliffhanger Hillclimb event in Carterton today.

Wellington Free Ambulance was called at 11am but due to the head injuries the man suffered, he could not be saved, a spokesman said.

Police central communications Shift Inspector Mike Coleman said the man was from Wellington and his family were spectators at the event.

"He came off his bike and collided with a fence.''

The police serious crash unit were investigating.

The man is not the first to die in the event. In 2012, Malcolm Foster, 59, of Tawa was killed after he lost control of his Ducati 999 motorcycle while cornering and crashed into a roadside fence.