Firefighter's son killed in Waikato crash

A firefighter's son was killed in a collision last night. File photo

A Morrinsville volunteer firefighter is mourning the loss of his son who was killed when the motorbike he was riding and a truck collided near Matamata last night.

Jason Barlow was believed to be heading home from work when the crash happened about 8.20pm on State Highway 27, on the outskirts of Matamata.

Mr Barlow is the son of Morrinsville Fire Brigade stalwart Barry Barlow, who has been a volunteer for 38 years.

Speaking on his behalf to the Herald this morning, brigade chief Brian Watters said his friend and colleague got the call after their weekly training had finished at the station about 11.15pm yesterday.

"I was there when he got a phone call at our training night. His daughter, Nicola, rang him. So I had to ring the police to see if they were looking for him and his wife because they weren't at home ... I heard his phone go just as I was walking out of the room and went to get my gear and one of the other guys came out and said 'you better go and see Barry, he's crying'. And I went 'what?!'. It's a tragedy for the family."

Mr Watters said their brigade wasn't sent to the call which was dealt with by their colleagues at the Matamata station.

The Barlow family were obviously "shocked and devastated" by the news, he said.

He understood Jason Barlow, who is a member of the Filthy Few motorcycle gang in Matamata, was on his way home from work when the crash happened.

"Three of the gang came to the station came to tell him, but he already knew, that was last night."

Barry Barlow, and wife Tina, used to own the Hot Pipi Cafe at Waihi Beach but had since sold it to buy a new property on the outskirts of the town, he said.

Barry Barlow bases himself in the town during the week as he is property manager at David St Primary School.

"He does the day calls for us, which is one of the harder times to get people."

Jason Barlow, who was also the father to a young daughter, was not associated with the fire brigade, he said.

He said the brigade would be there to support their colleague.

"The worst thing is going to be the next time we get a call to a motor vehicle accident involving a motorbike, we're just going to have to watch how he reacts, whether it brings it back ... but we have the systems in place for when we get called to those sorts of calls."