Fatal Meremere crash sparks investigation

WorkSafe and police are investigating a crash that claimed the life of a woman on a motorbike. Photo / Daniel Hines

WorkSafe and police are investigating a crash in which a woman on a motorbike was killed at a road works site.

Emergency services were called to the collision involving a road works vehicle and a motorcyclist at Island Block Rd, Meremere, at 11.58am yesterday.

Detective Sergeant Dave Grace said it appeared a road contracting vehicle had collided with a motorcyclist as the larger vehicle was reversing.

The motorcyclist died in the collision.

The road works site where the crash happened was subject to a 30km/h temporary speed restriction at the time.

Mr Grace said the crash was currently under investigation by the Waikato serious crash unit and the commercial vehicle investigation unit.

Both were working alongside health and safety regulator WorkSafe NZ.

Mr Grace said it was too early to comment on the cause of the crash.

A post-mortem examination would take place in Auckland today and police were still working to formally identify the victim.

"Yesterday's fatality was the 10th on Waikato roads in the past nine weeks and was followed overnight by a crash on Kennedy Bay Rd in the Coromandel where a woman suffered serious head injuries.

"Clearly with so many incidents occurring on our roads there is a need for all road users to exercise the utmost caution and drive to survive."