Weekend sees Waikato fourth motorcycle fatality

Too many- too often is how Waikato Police describe a spate of motorcycle crashes in the District after two separate incidents on Saturday claimed the life of one rider and left another critically injured.

District Road Policing Manager, Inspector Freda Grace said Police are appealing for witnesses or motorists travelling on the same stretch of road around the same time where the first crash happened.

"This crash is still under investigation by the Waikato Serious Crash Unit but what we can say is that speed appears to have been a factor in what occurred about 9.40am.

"The collision involved a south-bound Triumph motorcycle and an agricultural unit on the Morrinsville-Walton Rd and it appears the motorcycle has driven into the trailer as the 10-ton tractor-trailer unit has turned right into a driveway. The 45-year-old motorcyclist died at the scene."

Mrs Grace said it was of concern for Police that the circumstances of this crash mirror those of a crash earlier last week that claimed the life of another rider and appears to be another avoidable tragedy.

"The problem we have with this crash is that there were no immediate witnesses. We do know however, that shortly before the crash the tractor and trailer unit was passed by two other vehicles and we would like to speak to those drivers in relation to the behaviour of the tractor driver and the motorcyclist.

"Anyone in the area that saw either vehicle is asked to contact Sergeant Dean Kaio of the Matamata Piako Road Policing Unit at the Morrinsville Police Station on 07 858 6200."

Mrs Grace said this morning's crash, and another motorcycle crash on Storey Rd near Ohinewai just before 11am are of concern for Police because this was the fourth motorcycle fatality in the Waikato so far this year and the later crash the second involving a rider being critically injured.

"In the second crash the rider, who was part of a larger charity ride, appears to have miss-judged a bend and crashed into a fence.

"Given the debris at the scene, where three fence posts were knocked down, speed again appears to have been a factor. Police are urging all motorists, particularly motorcyclists, to drive to the speed limit and know the limit of their abilities as the Waikato reflects on its sixth fatality of the year."

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