Male cyclist dies after crash with truck

A male cyclist has died following a collision with a truck this evening.

A male cyclist was killed when he and a truck collided in Napier last night.

The cyclist and truck collided on Georges Dr between Kennedy Rd and Thistle St just before 6pm.

A Georges Dr resident had just seen a friend off when they came running back to the house and banged on the front door.

The friend had tried to leave the driveway when they were stopped by a member of the public and told what had happened. Emergency services were immediately called.

Ambulance services first reported the incident at 5.57pm and initial reports were that the collision had been between a car and a pedestrian.

The resident said they understood a truck was turning left into Georges Dr, towards Thistle St, when it hit the cyclist.

There was no sign of the vehicle that had hit the person.

Last night emergency services attended the incident and police had cordoned off the road.
Local diversions were in place around the scene, which was in close proximity to McLean Park where a Super Rugby match was under way. The road was re-opened just after 10pm.

A police spokesman said there were no cars in the immediate scene and added that the "handful" of people needing to move vehicles after the match would be escorted by police.

The Serious Crash Unit are investigating and as of last night the next of kin were in the process of being informed.

Georges Dr is commonly used as an alternative route to Marine Parade for trucks.
The street is well-lit and often busy. Last night's fatality comes just weeks after Helmut Gromer, 54, died after colliding with a truck just after 6.30pm on Brookfields Rd, nine kilometres north of Hastings.

Recent figures released by the Ministry of Transport show that the Hawke's Bay and Northern Wairarapa area could be heading for its highest annual road toll in a decade based on its first-quarter results.