Katikati mobility scooter rider dies after being hit by truck

Shirley O'Connor

An elderly woman who was critically injured when she was hit by a truck in Katikati on Monday has died.

Shirley Vivian O'Connor, 88, from Katikati, was injured when her mobility scooter and a truck collided on State Highway 2 about 12.46pm on Monday.

Mrs O'Connor was taken to Tauranga Hospital after the collision in which she was flung underneath the truck on Katikati's main street.

The truck driver told the Bay of Plenty Times that Mrs O'Connor, who had been waiting to cross the road, accelerated unexpectedly.

Police said today they were still investigating the crash and appealed for any witnesses to come forward.

Joyce and Graham Walker, of the Katikati Blind and Partially Sighted Support Group, of which Mrs O'Connor was a member, yesterday said they were saddened to hear of the crash.

"Shirley's only had the mobility scooter for a few months after she stopped driving and I have seen her having some problems navigating it a couple of times before," Mrs Walker said.

Mrs O'Connor was popular member of the group because of her "bubbly, outgoing personality". She had twice been guest speaker at group meetings and regaled them with humorous tales of overseas trips.

Mrs O'Connor's niece Liz Sayers, who travelled to Tauranga from Kerikeri on Monday afternoon, had been keeping vigil at her aunt's hospital bedside.

"It's been a real shock and I haven't slept much much since ... My mind is like pudding at the moment," she said yesterday.

Her widowed aunt had lived in Katikati for about 20 years but was originally from Auckland.

Mrs O'Connor had lived a "very full life" and was a member of many community organisations. She joined the Katikati Blind and Partially Sighted Support Group for social reasons. She had been driving until a few months ago.

"My aunt did have a few teething problems and found it difficult to adjust [to the mobility scooter] but maintaining her independence is very important to her," she said.

- additional reporting NZME.