Kerikeri motorcyclist rides into officer

Firefighters remonstrate with the rider of a Harley-Davidson who drove through a crash scene and into a police officer. PHOTO/PETER DE GRAAF

A Kerikeri motorcyclist is likely to be charged after allegedly dodging a police cordon at a serious crash then driving into a policeman signalling him to stop.

The incident occurred on Friday evening after a two-car collision on State Highway 10 which left four people, including two young children, badly injured.

Police closed the highway between the Kerikeri roundabout and Waimate North Rd while St John medics tended to the injured.

Volunteer firefighters say they were driving up Kerikeri Rd to the crash, with lights and siren activated, when they were overtaken by a motorbike just before the roundabout.

The rider allegedly ignored police orders at the roundabout, driving around a patrol car parked across the lane to block traffic about 5.30pm. The crash scene was next to Blue Gum Lane, about 2km north of the roundabout.

This reporter saw the rider drive between the ambulances and fire engines and around the crash debris. The police sergeant in charge of the crash scene raised his arm and shouted at the rider to stop. He dropped his speed but kept driving. The sergeant was still shouting 'stop' when the rider drove into him at low speed.

In the ensuing tussle the Harley-Davidson softail motorcycle, rider and female pillion passenger toppled over.

Angry firefighters remonstrated with the rider while he picked up his bike. Sergeant Ross Laurie, of Kerikeri police, said the rider would be dealt with later.