Cyclist 'unable to stop' before crashing into car door

Glenn Hilton Becker (inset) and the scene where Jane Mary Bishop died on Tamaki Drive. Photo / NZ Herald

A cyclist was unable to stop before she crashed into an open car door and was crushed to death under a tip truck, a court has been told.

Senior Constable Brian Hensley investigated the crash that killed Jane Bishop on Auckland's Tamaki Drive during rush-hour in November, 2010.

"I believe the door was opened within Ms Bishop's length of road and she was unable to stop within the distance.''

Ms Bishop, a British nurse, was cycling home from work in the city between slow-moving traffic and parked cars when police say she crashed into Glenn Becker's car door and went under a tip truck. She died at the scene.

Becker has been charged with careless use of a motor vehicle causing death and has pleaded not guilty. He is on trial in Auckland District Court.

Mr Hensley told the court today that he found paint marks on Ms Bishop's handlebars and fresh scratches on the inside of Becker's car door.

However, testing of the paint found on Ms Bishop's handlebars could not confirm that the paint was from Becker's car.

In his report, Mr Hensley found that Ms Bishop was riding in a "narrow corridor'' and that it was not known if Becker would have been able to see her on the road.

"Becker did not keep a constant lookout behind as he got out of his car and did not see Bishop until it was too late.''

Under cross-examination from Becker's lawyer Kevin Brosnahan, Mr Hensley said he was aware that Becker's parking space and others around it had been removed by Auckland City Council just days after the accident.

"To me, it would appear to a large extent that they have moved the situation 20m down the road.''

He said he had heard the road referred to as a "pinch point'' but the lane was 3.6m wide at the point of the crash.

Mr Hensley said the situation was "pretty dangerous'' but was not unique.

"There are a lot of situations where two lanes go through an intersection and one lane is taken up by parking.''

Mr Brosnahan also asked if he was aware that Cycle Action Auckland had raised concerns about the corner in 2006 - four years before the crash.

Mr Hensley said the group had written to his sergeant and papers were forwarded to him.

Earlier the court saw a police DVD interview with Becker, recorded two hours after the crash.

Becker said he had pulled up on Tamaki Drive and planned to go fishing with friends.

He said he was "pretty sure'' that he looked in the rear-view mirror for any traffic before stepping out of his car.

"I looked up and there she was - on a bike with a little carrier on the front ... she hit my shoulder and leg and sort of stumbled towards the traffic.''

Becker said he reached out for Ms Bishop as she went under the truck.

"I couldn't stop her. I didn't get a hold on her or anything.''

He said Ms Bishop and her bike were trapped under the one of the rear wheels of a tip truck.

"For some reason I asked if she was alright. I'm sure she vaguely shook her head and said `no'.

The trial is due to finish on tomorrow.