Cyclist dies after dog crash

Douglas Cater.

An early morning recreational bike ride ended in tragedy after a fatal collision between a cyclist and a runaway dog.

Douglas William Cater, 65, died in Auckland hospital 10 days after falling off his bike outside Glover Park, St Heliers, on April 1.

He was cycling downhill on Glover Rd about 6.30am when a chocolate labradoodle called Ruby ran from the park, an approved Auckland City Council off-lead dog exercise area.

The father-of-three, who was wearing a helmet, hit the 10-month-old dog and fell off his bike, suffering severe head and internal injuries.

He was rushed to hospital but died on April 11.

Senior Constable Bryan Hensley of the Auckland Serious Crash Unit is investigating.

He said Ruby's owner had let her off her lead and was about to throw her a ball when she ran into the road.

Hensley said the road had a slight bend in it and many cyclists went around it on the wrong side of the road.

"Coming down the hill, you can see everything coming towards you. When we got there, the marks and debris were on the wrong side of the road.

"The first person on the scene was an off-duty nurse who ... deals with neurological patients. But by the sound of it no amount of help was going to be enough, his injuries were too great.

"It's just one of those very unfortunate things."

He said Ruby was a bit "battered and bruised and sore" but otherwise okay.

Hensley said because the case was so unusual the file would be handed to the Auckland road policing manager but Ruby's owner was unlikely to face charges.

"I phoned him a couple of days ago to keep him up to date. I told him Mr Cater had passed away and he was quite upset about the whole thing."

Douglas' wife Marion did not want to comment this week and the council did not return calls.

In a public notice, his family described him as "kind, loving and caring". He was also remembered by the Commerce Club of Auckland, where he had been a member since 1998 and on the board for the past three years.

"He was an active member of the club, running the fishing section and involved in the golf section and the wine club," said general manager Anton Coetzee.

"He was well-liked and respected. If Doug made a promise, you could be sure he would deliver upon it and he was a lovely person to boot."

Club members paid tribute to Cater in a death notice.

"Doug will be remembered for his unfailing generosity and willingness to assist wherever needed," they wrote.