Tragedy cuts short mother's plans for cycling adventure

Cyclist Kumiko Wakamiya Goodhall died when hit by a goods train at a rail crossing in Tauranga. Photo / Supplied

A Japanese-born cyclist's plan to ride the Otago Rail Trail was tragically cut short when she was killed in a collision with a goods train.

Police identified the Mt Maunganui woman killed in the train accident as Kumiko Wakamiya Goodhall.

A resident of the Mount for 24 years since emigrating from Japan, the 55-year-old was married to Allan and had two daughters, Jean, 23, and Hana, 21.

An experienced marathon runner and a keen walker, Ms Goodhall was getting fit for the bike trail, which she aimed to ride after Hana's graduation in Dunedin next month.

She was a graduate of Te Wananga o Aotearoa, and was well known in the community as a student counsellor for Japanese students.

She had also worked as an administrator of Japanese-owned rural investment, Oliver Farm, in Matamata.

Police were still at a loss to explain how she was struck by the train at a level crossing on Matapihi Rd.

The barrier arms, bells and lights were activated while the train, carrying six carriages, was crossing.

The footpath which Ms Goodhall was biking on had an L-shaped pedestrian fence and warning signs, which she had stepped around to cross the tracks.

Senior sergeant Tania Kura said the cyclist appeared to have been distracted and did not see the train approaching.

She confirmed that the iPod Ms Goodhall was listening to may have prevented her from hearing the train engine.

The train driver, who was travelling at 25km/h, braked immediately but Ms Goodhall was dragged at least 40m down the track.

She died instantly.

Police were appealing to witnesses of the accident for more information, in particular the woman driver of a sedan that was at the front of a queue of cars waiting for the freight train to pass.

The case has been forwarded to the coroner, who will determine the cause of death.

Cycle Bay of Plenty founder Jenny Gibson said she did not know of a single member of her club that wore headphones while cycling.

"It is far too dangerous. You just lose all sense of what is around you."

She said her road cycling group avoided the Tauranga streets because they were too crowded and posed many risks to cyclists.

She pointed out that a Dutch cyclist had been killed in June after being hit by a truck just metres from where Ms Goodhall was killed.

In the last 10 years 175 people have been killed after walking on, or driving across New Zealand railways.