Hood St wants end to hooning

Castlecliff Photo/File

Castlecliff residents have criticised unsafe bike riding after a quad bike rider died on Thursday.

Sonny Peke, a 38-year-old father, was killed in Hood St while riding a quad bike.

He was not wearing a helmet and died in Wanganui Hospital of his injuries.

As police inquiries continued, Hood St residents said people on quad bikes and motorbikes were often "hooning up and down the street".

"We're all sick and tired of the bikes hooning around the place here," Lynne Douglas told the Chronicle. "We get it a lot here. They belt up and down the grass."

Another local resident said he'd seen Mr Peke riding around, "not using safe practice".

"I thought, 'how silly is that man riding with children on the bike?' "

The man said he had occasionally seen Mr Peke riding around the street without a helmet. If Mr Peke had been wearing his helmet it "might have been a lot different".

"I'm just saddened by the loss of life."

The Police Serious Crash Unit is investigating the crash.

Whanganui Police would like to hear from anyone who saw the accident or knows of Mr Peke's movements before the crash. They are asked to contact Constable Jonathan Redley on (06) 349 0600.