A tourist staying in Hawke's Bay has been killed after he was hit by a truck at a notorious intersection in Napier today.
At about 5pm emergency services were called to the crash near the intersection of State Highway 2B and Meeanee Quay.
Witnesses describe two cyclists trying to negotiate their way across the state highway to get to the other side. It is possible they were trying to get access to a cycle track there.
Initial enquiries suggest that the husband and wife, who were visiting Napier and staying nearby, have been walking their bikes across the busy road. The wife has successfully crossed the road, but unfortunately the husband did not.
He was struck by a light truck near the centre of the road despite the truck braking heavily to avoid the collision.
He was transported to the Hawke's Bay Regional Hospital, but died shortly after.
The truck was travelling toward Napier at the time, and with the merge/ turning lanes where the couple tried to cross, the road was effectively four lanes wide.
The weather was fine, but it was a busy time for the intersection.
