Rider hurt in crash as gusts hit

Senior Sergeant Greg Brown

Wind gusts caused a motorcyclist to lose control and crash, seriously injuring him and prompting Hastings District Council to investigate warning signs.

Hawke's Bay road policing Senior Sergeant Greg Brown said the 54-year-old Hastings man crashed his motorcycle on Taihape Rd at Otamauri, near Koromiko Rd, on Sunday afternoon. He was travelling toward Hastings from Taihape.

He lost control due to strong westerly wind gusts blowing across Taihape Rd.

"Once the wind gusts hit him, he was pushed to the left of the road, on to the shoulder and crashed."

He received multiple injuries including a collapsed lung and fractured ribs. The Lowe Corporation Rescue Helicopter airlifted him to Hawke's Bay Hospital, where he was in a serious but stable condition in the intensive care unit yesterday, a hospital spokeswoman said.

The motorcyclist had improved from being in a critical condition on the day of the crash.

Mr Brown said motorists were known to be hampered by high winds on Taihape Rd.

"Obviously it's a hazard for either high-sided vehicles or motorcyclists in particular."

The crash had prompted police to talk to Hastings District Council about increasing signage warning of gusts.

Council transportation manager Jagwinder Pannu said a road crew would visit the scene this morning "to see what wind warning signs there are and if more are needed they will be installed as quickly as possible".

Two fatal motorbike crashes have occurred in the Bay this year.