Police charge mum-of-3 over cyclist's death

Johann Edge. Photo / Supplied

A mother-of-three has been charged over the death of an Auckland University lecturer as he cycled home from work two months ago.

Nadine Koroheke, 40, was charged with dangerous driving causing death to Johann "Hans" Edge, also a parent of three including a new baby, and is to appear in the Manukau District Court next month.

Thirty-six-year-old Dr Edge, who was a lecturer in sports and exercise, was cycling home to Howick on March 25 with two colleagues.

As he came down Pakuranga Rd, and Ms Koroheke crossed two lanes to turn into her driveway after going to the dairy, he hit the rear passenger side of her Holden Commodore.

Constable Steve Carey of the Counties Manukau serious crash unit said the charge was laid in court on Monday last week before being served on Mrs Koroheke.

The two-month-long crash investigation file went to Manukau road policing manager Inspector Heather Wells who made the final decision to lay the charge.

The maximum penalty is up to five years imprisonment and/or a fine of up to $20,000 and disqualification from driving for a minimum period of a year.

Dr Edge's wife, Emma, told the Herald yesterday she had received a letter from the police with details about the charges but said she would not be following the case.

"I'm just getting my head around it ... it has been dragging on a bit, I just want to move on."

The couple's children Madison, Jacob, and Bella, were aged 7, 3 and 5 months at the time of the crash.

The family had last year moved to Auckland from Palmerston North, where Dr Edge was a lecturer at Massey University.

Mrs Koroheke did not return calls yesterday but her husband, Jason, told the Herald after the accident that his wife was distraught over the collision.

"It's terrible. Nobody wants to go on a bike ride and not get home.

"She's feeling it. She didn't sleep all night. She said, 'I just want to lock myself in my room'. She didn't want to leave the house this morning.

"We have the utmost sympathy for the family, without a doubt. It's terrible what's happened. If we could turn back the clock 24 hours, we would."

After the accident, Mrs Koroheke had run into her house and told her husband to call 111 as a cyclist had been hit.

She grabbed some blankets to put over Dr Edge and ran back to where he was lying.

Mr Koroheke said his wife did not see the cyclist as she was turning.

Dr Edge was born in the Manawatu and worked at a number of universities, including in Sydney and Perth.

His work had been recognised in more than 20 scholarly publications.