State of road questioned in motorcycle tour tragedy

Road maintenance has come under the spotlight after a visiting American motorcyclist died near Kaikoura.

William Hill Prescott, 53, of Manhattan Beach, California, was killed when he fell from a rental BMW motorcycle. It slid on gravel on a moderate right-hand bend near the Kahutara bridge on the Inland Road on February 13.

He was one of a group of 26 Americans and four guides on a tour organised by Christchurch-based Te Waipounamu Motorcycle Tours.

An inquest in Kaikoura was told that Mr Prescott was travelling with two other motorcyclists on the Inland Road en route to Hanmer Springs.

Tour guide Lawrence Bycroft said he had a sense Mr Prescott was riding outside his ability and was keen to ride near the front and push the pace.

At the Kahutara bridge, about 20km from Kaikoura, Mr Bycroft saw a lot of loose gravel near a corner.

He looked back and saw Mr Prescott come into the corner too quickly.

The rear wheel of Mr Prescott's bike slid and he tried to correct but was thrown over the handlebars, landing on his helmet.

Mr Bycroft said he believed the roading authority should take responsibility for the condition of the road.

The police report noted that the road had been soft after resealing, as passing traffic had caused the seal to lift, and Mr Prescott could have avoided the gravel by staying in the correct lane and riding to his ability.

Works Infrastructure Kaikoura area manager Dave Wyeth said new seal could "fret" for weeks afterwards.

Coroner David Crerar ruled Mr Prescott died as the result of a ruptured spleen after falling from the bike when he exceeded the recommended speed limit on the corner.

- NZPA