Police have named the 59-year-old man killed after his quad bike trailer detached and rolled down a ditch in Southern Hawke's Bay yesterday evening.
He was Paul Ropiha, aged 59. He was a Porangahau local and died at the scene as a result of the injuries he received.
St John ambulances from Waipukurau and Porangahau were dispatched to the scene, about 3km from Porangahau township, just after 5pm yesterday when he was initially believed to be critically injured. The Lowe Corporation Rescue Helicopter was also dispatched but was sent back to base after the man was declared dead by medical staff on arrival.
Police enquiries were continuing and the crash is currently being investigated by the Eastern District Serious Crash Unit. Police would like to hear from anyone who may have seen the quad bike towing a trailer in the area during the late afternoon.
ACC figures show that nearly 430 injury claims relating to accidents involving all terrain vehicles had been lodged in Hawkes Bay over the past three years.
