Tourist killed in motorbike crash named

The German motorcyclists were travelling to Taupo when the accident occurred. Photo / Bevan Conley

A German tourist killed in a motorcycle accident near Wanganui yesterday has been named by police.

Hans Jurgen Zech, 52, died when the motorcycle he was riding crashed on State Highway 4 near Aberfeldy about 1.30pm yesterday.

He was at the front of a group of 19 motorcyclists travelling to Taupo when the accident happened.

Mr Zech was holidaying in New Zealand with his wife and friends, all of whom are believed to have been touring New Zealand on motorcycles as a group.

Police said the group had just passed through a section of road works controlled by traffic lights which forced traffic into the south bound lane.

At the end of the road works, all of the motorcyclists moved back to the left except Mr Zech, who then swerved to avoid an oncoming southbound vehicle and crashed.

He was taken to Wanganui Hospital with critical injuries where he died late yesterday, police said.

Police are investigating the crash and the death will be referred to the coroner.

- nzherald.co.nz