Hit and run victim named

Police have named a man who was killed in a hit and run accident at Leeston, 45km southwest of Christchurch yesterday.

He was Jens Richardon, 34, of Springston in Canterbury. Mr Richardon, an overseas national, is understood to have lived in New Zealand for some years.

He was hit between 6.30pm and 7.30pm while riding his bike on the Springston-Leeston Road, between Goulds Road and Bethels Road.

A woman motorist stopped about 7.30pm after noticing the bike and found the man's body.

"As a result of initial investigation police located the vehicle involved in this hit and run at an address some 20km from the scene," Senior Sergeant Stewart Munro said.

"Two males in their 20s have been spoken to and police are satisfied that one of these men was the driver of the vehicle that hit the cyclist."

Inquiries are continuing.

Police want to hear from anyone who may have seen the cyclist in the area early yesterday evening. He was wearing a reflectorised jacket and riding a dark bike.

- NZPA