Truckie jailed for killing cyclist

A driver who killed a German cyclist after falling asleep at the wheel of his heavily laden logging truck and trailer has been jailed for two years and three months.

Troy Roberts was sentenced in Tauranga District Court on Friday after pleaded guilty to reckless driving causing the death of Stephan Stoermer, falsifying his log book and several breaches of regulations, relating to exceeding his restricted driving hours, the Bay of Plenty Times reported.

Mr Stoermer, 38, of Frankfurt, was on the final leg of a 26-country cycling holiday when he was hit and killed by Roberts' truck and trailer on State Highway 2 near Te Puke, 21km southeast of Mt Maunganui, on March 12 last year.

The court was told that police inquiries revealed Roberts exceeded his restricted driving hours and did not have enough rest breaks in the days leading up to the crash.

Roberts was also disqualified from driving for two years.

- NZPA