KEY POINTS:
Hastings police will decide on Thursday what charges an 18-year-old motorist who hit a trio of cyclists will face.
A husband and wife and their friend are in hospital with serious head injuries after an early morning cycle ride yesterday turned to horror when a car driven by the teenage motorist struck them from behind.
Napier/Hastings fire chief Ray Brown and his wife, Shona, who are about to become grandparents, were last night surrounded by family in the intensive care ward of Hawkes Bay Hospital following the accident at Havelock North.
The third injured cyclist - a woman called Jo - was also in intensive care with serious injuries.
The trio, all of whom are in their 50s, were making their way to a training ride when the car ploughed into them.
Serious crash investigator Sergeant Cory Ubels said Mr Brown remained in a critical condition and the two women were in serious condition.
Mr Ubels said charges were likely, but police had not yet decided what they would be and a decision should be made on Thursday.
A fourth cyclist, Colleen Youngquest, narrowly missed being hit.
Mrs Youngquest said she was in the cycling lane on the side of Havelock Rd - and was just metres ahead of the trio - when, just before 8am, she heard a noise behind her that sounded like a car tyre blowing out.
"I initially just heard this thump. I sort of turned around ... and caught this glimpse of a silver car coming towards me.
"I thought, 'Something is going to happen'. All I could remember was advice from other cyclists, 'If something is happening behind you cycle faster and get out of the way'.
"I just pumped my legs as fast as they would go and cycled as hard as I could. Then I heard metal and thought, 'Oh my God'."
Mrs Youngquest stopped suddenly. When she turned around the silver car had stopped about a metre from the back of her bike.
"All I could see was this mangled bike under the car and a broken windscreen and Jo was in the middle of the road.
"The driver of the car had gotten out and rushed straight over to her and was saying, 'Oh my God, oh my God, I'm so sorry'."
Mrs Youngquest called emergency services, telling them a cyclist had been hit by a car. It was not until an ambulance arrived that she realised Ray and Shona Brown were lying on the side of the road.
Mrs Youngquest said Jo was bleeding from a gash to her head and her damaged helmet was hanging around her neck. Her shoe had come off and bits of her bike were scattered along the cycle lane.
Mrs Youngquest's husband, David, had been cycling behind the injured trio and came across the accident soon after it happened.
"As I arrived I could see one rider off on the side of the road and a little bit further on there was another rider on the side of the road with people already trying to look after them. Another rider was in the middle of the road just in front of where the car had stopped."
Mr Youngquest went to help Mr Brown, who was lying on the ground.
"He was a little bit worried about his wife ... I don't think he quite knew where he was. He was probably in the first stages of shock."
Mrs Brown, who is believed to be a nurse, was being treated by other members of the public.
Mr Ubels said police believe alcohol was a factor in the crash but it was too early to say if the teenage driver would face charges.
The Herald understands the driver had worked a nightshift and witnesses say he may have veered off the road after falling asleep, as the impact appeared to have occurred in the cycle lane.
Fire Service eastern regional commander Paul Baxter said Mr Brown had been a firefighter for about 30 years.
He was well thought of in the area and many firefighters throughout the region were feeling the impact of the accident.
The Fire Service was offering its support to the Brown family.
- Additional reporting NZPA
