Mother of two dead on highway hit-and-run

Truck driver Colin Jenkins says he checked Catherine Matson's pulse but 'she was cold and absolutely gone' Photo / Christine Cornege

A mother of two killed in a hit-and-run early yesterday was thriving in her new job as a chef, say distraught friends and colleagues.

Catherine Matson's body was found on the verge of SH24 near Matamata. Police say it appears the 43-year-old was a hit-and-run victim.

The Redoubt Bar & Eatery in Matamata was shut yesterday by owner Jacob Henderson after he heard of his staff member's death.

"She started with us three years ago. She was a rousie [sheep shearers' woolhandler] and just started doing dishes and we trained her up," Mr Henderson told the Weekend Herald.

Ms Matson was "a real asset" and became the restaurant's sous chef.

"We had every reason to ... put a lot of faith in her. She finally had a place where people looked up to her. And she was just getting better and better."

Yesterday, Ms Matson's colleagues posted tributes to her on Facebook page.

"Cath can only be described as Cath ... She is the most unique and special person I have ever met. I will miss her dearly," wrote Jenn Ireland.

"The Redoubt team over the years have become her second family ... so today we spent it together."

Others said the restaurant would not be the same without Ms Matson's smiling face.

Mr Henderson said Ms Matson - the mother of two sons in their early 20s - had come to visit him and his wife on Thursday, her day off.

"She had written out a letter. She was concerned that we weren't paying our head chef enough, whom she admires greatly.

"She didn't want her to leave. So she wanted us to give her a dollar an hour from her own pay. Can you believe that? ... She was lovely."

Ms Matson's body was discovered by truck driver Colin Jenkins, who was on his way to deliver stock feed to a farm.

Mr Jenkins received a message on his radio from another truckie as he was entering Matamata.

"He told me to be on the lookout for a dog on the side of the road."

But instead of finding a dog, Mr Jenkins found Ms Matson's lifeless body on the corner of State Highway 24 and Garland St on the eastern outskirts of the town.

He said it was likely she had been there for some time but he checked her pulse anyway.

"She was cold and absolutely gone. It was pretty freaky. You don't expect to find a body on the side of the road."

Mr Jenkins and a fellow truckie called police. He said that despite Ms Matson being dressed in what he thought were dark-coloured "going out" clothes, she wasn't wearing any shoes, which was unusual.

Detective Sergeant Rod Carpinter said Ms Matson was found on the roadside verge near the intersection about 5.30am.

A woman was seen walking in the area around 1.30am, he said.

The cause of death will not be confirmed until a post-mortem examination is done today.

Mr Carpinter said police were seeking information about vehicles in the area of State Highway 24 and Garland St on Thursday night and yesterday morning.

Police are also keen to hear about any vehicles that have sustained damage since that time, or have needed a new windscreen or panel repairs.

"It's important that we speak to anyone who knows anything about a vehicle, or any incident involving the deceased woman," Mr Carpinter said.