Cycle crash accused indicates early guilty plea

Craig Goulsbro died after being struck by a vehicle on Puketaha Road.

A man accused of colliding with a group of cyclists near Hamilton last month - killing one and injuring two others - will plead guilty, his lawyer says.

Nicholas James Dryland, 22, of Gordonton, appeared in Hamilton District Court this morning to face a charge of aggravated careless use of a motor vehicle by illegally overtaking causing death and two charges of careless driving causing injury.

Through his lawyer Thomas Sutcliffe, Dryland indicated he was likely to plead guilty to all charges.

The maximum penalty for each charge is three years' imprisonment or a $10,000 fine.

Dryland was remanded without plea to reappear on August 22.

The charges relate to an incident on July 1 when Dryland allegedly hit top cyclist and ironman competitor Craig Goulsbro and a group of 14 friends with his vehicle on Puketaha Road.

Mr Goulsbro, 50, suffered serious injuries as a result of the accident and never recovered.

He died surrounded by family at Waikato Hospital two days later on July 3.

The group of experienced riders were celebrating the second anniversary of the opening of their friend Bob Puru's Flagstaff cycling shop with a 46km ride on the outskirts of Hamilton.