Motorcyclist badly injured in Bay crash

Police and an ambulance at the scene of yesterday's crash. Photo / Paul Taylor

A 45-year-old woman remains in a critical condition at Hawke's Bay Hospital after a serious crash yesterday.

Police said the motorcycle rider and a ute collided at the intersection of Farndon and Pakowhai roads at 2pm.

The sole occupant of the ute did not require any medical attention.

Emergency services and the Serious Crash Unit were at the scene and diversions were put in place on Pakowhai and Farndon roads.

Police were still investigating.

The woman is the third motorcyclist to be involved in a collision on Hawke's Bay roads this year.

On March 5, a 20-year-old woman was seriously injured in a motorcycle crash near Paki Paki.

She was in a critical condition at Wellington Hospital for several weeks, but this week had been moved to a ward and was now in a stable condition.

Police said she had been the passenger on the motorcycle, and had been thrown some distance in a collision with a station wagon. The male motorcycle rider, a 27-year-old Otane man, had serious injuries.

On February 7, Rhys Middleton, 23, was catapulted from his motorcycle and died after colliding with a car travelling in the same direction on State Highway 5, just north of Napier.

The car was driven by a tourist.

Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss was urging drivers, motorcyclists and cyclists to be extra vigilant on the roads this Easter long weekend as heavy traffic was expected.

"Every death or serious injury on our roads is one too many", Mr Foss said.

The road toll stands at 83, which is 10 more than this time last year.

"This number is a stark reminder that we must remain focused on road safety at all times, and remember not only the victims, but the families, friends and communities left behind.

"Preliminary statistics from 2015 show alcohol, drugs, speed, distraction, fatigue - or a combination of these - contributed to more than two thirds of fatal crashes.

"Eighty people killed on our roads last year were not wearing a seatbelt - this year that number is already 21. For most New Zealanders, buckling up is second nature, but a disappointingly large number are still not getting the message about a simple action that can, quite literally, be life-saving."

- The official Easter holiday period for 2016 begins at 4pm today (March 24) and ends at 6am on Tuesday, March 29.