Motorcyclist killed on way home from event

Emergency services were called to a stretch of State Highway 5 near Eskdale about 10am. Photo / NZME

The motorcycle community is shocked and saddened after losing one of its members in a fatal crash involving a tourist driver in Hawkes Bay yesterday morning.

Emergency services were called to a stretch of State Highway 5 near Eskdale about 10am.

Police have confirmed the driver of the car was a tourist visiting the country on a 12-month working visa. Both vehicles were travelling north.

The male motorcyclist was the second to have died on the roads in just three days. Cornelius Van Der Watt died in New Plymouth on Friday night.

Cazz Taylor of the Hawkes Bay Harley Motorcycle Club said he understood the man travelling through Eskdale had attended the Bay MC One Night Stand event in Havelock North on Saturday night.

"Everybody knows everybody, so it's really upsetting when this happens."

Mr Taylor said riders from all over the country were looking forward to catching up at the "well organised" event on Saturday night .

"It's a huge shock to us all."

Mr Taylor said the dead rider was a member of the New Zealand Road Pirates Motorcycle Club and he would probably have been travelling home back up north.

Police said the man was part of a wider group of motorcyclists who were also leaving Napier travelling that way.

The road was closed for about four hours and motorists travelling to Taupo experienced some delays and were advised to avoid or postpone their travel.

Police were speaking to the occupants of the vehicle involved and a number of other witnesses.

Olivia Davie, who works at Eskdale Cattery, said there had been quite a lot of crashes on that stretch of road over the years.

"It's a very dangerous area."

Another resident said it seemed people relaxed when they drove through that area, resulting in several crashes.