KEY POINTS:
One man was killed and three people were injured when three motorbikes collided in South Waikato yesterday.
The accident happened around 11.30am near the intersection of Waipapa and Ranginui Rds, Mangakino.
The crash involved a northbound bike and two southbound machines.
It killed a 47-year-old man from Te Aroha who was riding one of the southbound motorbikes.
His 48-year-old female passenger suffered minor leg and shoulder injuries and was later airlifted by the Westpac Waikato Air Ambulance helicopter to Waikato Hospital.
Constable Glen Taylor, of the Tokoroa strategic traffic unit, said the male rider of the second southbound motorbike took evasive action and he and his female passenger had a lucky escape.
He said the rider was shaken but unhurt. His passenger, however, suffered minor injuries and was airlifted to Waikato Hospital for treatment.
The rider of the northbound motorbike was also taken to hospital by helicopter in a serious condition and was to undergo surgery, Mr Taylor said.
"Both female passengers' injuries were described as minor and they and the seriously injured rider of the northbound bike were airlifted to Waikato Hospital."
Waipapa Rd was closed off after the accident, causing traffic delays.
Another motorbike accident northwest of Auckland yesterday afternoon left two people seriously injured. They were in North Shore Hospital last night.
Ambulance services and the police serious crash unit were called to the crash on the intersection of Sunnyside Rd and Coatesville-Riverhead Highway shortly after midday.
