Napier hit-and-run victim still serious

WANTED: Police are seeking Jamie Jones.

A cyclist was last night in a serious but stable condition in Middlemore Hospital's intensive care unit with injuries received when struck by a vehicle in a suburban street on the outskirts of Napier.

Louis Keil, 49, of Napier, was transferred to Auckland early yesterday having been previously in a critical condition in Hawke's Bay Hospital since being admitted after the incident in Waterworth Ave, Onekawa South, on Friday morning.

Police had earlier said the driver of the vehicle had driven off after Mr Keil was struck while riding a bike amid a clash between the two. On Sunday police announced a warrant had been issued for the arrest of Jamie Lesley Jones, 31, also of Napier.

He had not been arrested by early last night, with police and Hawke's Bay gang leaders urging Jones or anyone knowing his whereabouts to contact police.

With Mr Keil a long-time Mongrel Mob member and Jones being linked to Black Power, worries that some gang friction could be revived were being dispelled, with sources telling Hawke's Bay Today leaders regarded the incident as having been between two individuals and not a gang issue.

Detective Darren Pritchard said that while the gang connections had been a worry, those who police had spoken with had been co-operative and appeared keen for Jones to be apprehended or give himself up to police.

Jones was last year sentenced to three months' jail for reckless driving and other offences in a slow-speed, late-night chase with police as he drove a stolen vehicle around the streets of Napier on its rims for over an hour after police used road spikes in an attempt to stop the vehicle by blowing out its tyres.

- Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Jamie Jones is asked to contact Hawkes Bay Police on (06) 831 0700 or report anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.