Students mourn lecturer killed on bike

Dr LiHong "Chris" He. Photo / Supplied

A cyclist run over by a stock truck outside Dunedin Hospital was a senior lecturer at the University of Otago's Faculty of Dentistry, a husband and father of two preschoolers.

Dr LiHong "Chris" He, 34, was hit by a stock truck in Cumberland St on Monday.

Otago University Faculty of Dentistry Dean Prof Greg Seymour said Dr He left behind a wife and two young children, aged 2 and 2 months.

Prof Seymour said he visited Mr He's wife yesterday afternoon, he said.

"She was very distraught."

Her mother, who came to New Zealand for the birth of the baby, was still in Dunedin, he said.

Mr He was a valued member of staff and popular with the students since being appointed senior lecturer at University of Otago in 2008.

Before leaving China for New Zealand, he gained his PhD in Sydney in biomaterials, Prof Seymour said.

Biomaterials is the science behind the materials used in dentistry, like the metals, plastics and resins used to fill and replace teeth or dentures.

Otago University senior teaching fellow John Arts said Mr He was one of the nicest people he knew and had recently returned from parental leave and had just bought a new house.

"It was all just starting. He was well established at the dental school, had a new baby and a new house, so it's very sad because he had everything ahead of him."

Students have created a Facebook page called RIP Chris (Li Hong) He and had set up a bank account for donations to his family.

Senior Sergeant Steve Aitken said the examination of the scene yesterday included an inspection of a car, stock truck and bike.

Police were still investigating if the open door of a parked car had been a factor in the accident.