Cyclist, 12, dies in crash with truck on way to school

The scene of today's fatal crash. Photo / Hawke's Bay Today

A 12-year-old boy who was fitting in well with his new classmates had his life tragically cut short when he was killed while riding his bicycle to school in Napier yesterday.

Joshua Paul Bennie was riding in a 50km/h zone and was about 2km from his school, Taradale Intermediate, when his cycle and a van collided on the corner of Moeller and Guppy Rds outside Reignier School about 8.10am.

He suffered severe, multiple injuries and died at the scene despite paramedics and two nurses trying to resuscitate him for 15 minutes.

Taradale Intermediate principal Dennis Coxon said Joshua was in Year 8 and new to the school and was fitting in well.

Mr Coxon said Joshua was popular and got involved with a lot of extra-curricular activities at the decile-8 intermediate.

"He was enjoying himself and making a lot of new friends and he had a real neat personality as a kid," said the principal.

"He had just finished a great camp and things were going really well for him at the school and then this happened."

Mr Coxon said support systems were in place for Joshua's classmates upset at his death.

"We express our condolences and sympathies to his family and will make contact with them when the time is appropriate."

Neighbours in the area were too distraught to talk when contacted by the Herald last night, although one said he had looked out his window to see cars stopped and people running towards the boy.

He said flowers were left at the scene not long after.

Stephen Smith, Hawkes Bay district operations manager for St John Ambulance, said the young cyclist, who was understood to be riding alone and was wearing a helmet, had suffered "quite extensive" injuries.

Mr Smith said two nurses tried to resuscitate Joshua before the arrival of St John paramedics, who spent 15 minutes trying to revive him.

Traffic was diverted as road closures were put in place on Guppy Rd between Osier Rd and Elbourne St.

The police serious crash unit is investigating the fatality.