German cyclist killed in BOP was set to go home

A cyclist killed after he was hit by a truck in the Bay of Plenty last week was due to return home to Germany after cycling around the world for three years, police said.

Stephan Stoermer, 38, of Frankfurt, was to head home on Friday, the Bay of Plenty Times reported.

Mr Stoermer died on the way to hospital after he and a fully laden logging truck collided on State Highway 2 near Te Matai Rd, on the outskirts of Te Puke, last Thursday night.

Mr Stoermer began his journey in the northern hemisphere's spring of 2006. He had cycled through more than 20 countries - in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Oceania.

He enjoyed touring the world on a bicycle because he met people with whom he could tour for hours or days and had the most interesting conversations with them, he said on his website.

At the time of the accident, Mr Stoermer had not been wearing a helmet. It was hanging on his handlebars.

He had been stopped for not wearing a helmet twice in Tasmania, Australia, a month before he arrived in New Zealand.

According to Mr Stoermer's travel documents, he was due to fly out to Frankfurt on Friday, police said.

He arrived in New Zealand on December 30 and had travelled the South Island.

Police are still investigating the collision.

The Rotorua truck driver involved has not been charged over the incident.

- NZPA