Motorcyclist crash brings North toll to 12

Senior Constable Jim Hawthorn, serious-crash investigator, at the scene on Ngunguru Rd where a man was struck by a vehicle. The man was reportedly in a critical condition. Photo / John Stone

Northland's road toll rose to 12 after a motorcyclist who police said had not been wearing a helmet died in Moerewa.

Whangarei police Acting Sergeant Steve Dawson said the 30-year-old man, from Moerewa, was riding a friend's motorcycle on Mason Ave about 4.35am on Saturday.

Mr Dawson said the man came off the motorbike when he drove on to grass and hit a fence post.

The man had been unconscious when an ambulance arrived and he was transported to Whangarei Hospital, where he died about 5.15pm on Saturday.

Alcohol was believed to have been involved and not wearing a helmet was a recipe for disaster, Mr Dawson said.

The accident is being investigated by the Police Serious Crash Unit.

No other vehicles were involved and the dead man's name would not be released until next of kin had been informed, police said.

It was at least the third motorcycle death on Northland's roads this year, with two of the dead believed to have also not been wearing protective helmets.

The Northland road toll of 11 this year compares with 10 at the same stage last year.

Northland's road toll for 2014 was 19 deaths from 16 crashes.

The previous year there were 21 road deaths in the region.

Meanwhile, a Northland man was in critical condition in hospital after being struck by a vehicle as he walked back to talk to the driver of another vehicle after they had been in a collision.

Police surveyed the scene on Ngunguru Rd on Friday afternoon as the 46-year-old man underwent surgery at Whangarei Hospital.

Police spokeswoman Sarah Kennett said the man had been driving a vehicle on Ngunguru Rd about 8.50pm on Thursday, when he collided with the rear of another vehicle.

The man continued to drive towards Ngunguru and was followed by the driver of the vehicle he had hit, Mrs Kennett said.

The first driver had eventually stopped, got out of the car and was walking on the road to speak with the other driver when he was struck by a third vehicle.

He was thrown over the bonnet and was left critically injured. The man was taken to hospital by ambulance.

Mrs Kennett said police were still investigating.