Tauranga man Clinton Hunter has been named as the 26-year-old killed in a crash in Bethlehem last night.
Clinton was riding his Yamaha bike down Carmichael Road, from Bethlehem Road, when a Peugeot car turned in front of him as the driver went to enter the Bethlehem Country Club.
The crash happened on Carmichael Road in Bethlehem last night. Photo: Cameron Avery.
Police say Clinton crashed heavily into the car, which was being driven by an 84-year-old woman.
Acting Senior Sergeant Phil Gillbanks says a second motorcyclist, Clinton's partner, managed to stop short of the crash.
'She is naturally, extremely upset and is being cared for by family and friends,” says Phil.
The serious crash unit is investigating the incident.
16 comments
Unnecessary Deaths
Posted on 09-04-2015 13:13 | By Conzar
All moto vehicle accidents are needless, unnecessary,and tragic. This underscores the REAL need for automation in our driving systems. We have a history of 100 years of bad drivers especially here in NZ. It is time that the government actually does something good for the public and to be at the forefront of autonomous technologies. Partner with Google, Telsa, and Nissan. Stop spending our public dollars on spying on us and use it for good of the entire society. A young life was taken BECAUSE of the transportation system. It will continue to happen every day until OUR government stops pandering to their corporate masters and actually starts working for us again.
Sad news
Posted on 09-04-2015 14:37 | By Pap Beach babe
My heartfelt condolences to Clints partner and family, such a terrible tragedy, Stay strong and much love
Good comment Conzar
Posted on 09-04-2015 17:38 | By Blasta
Totally agreed Conzar
Not again!
Posted on 09-04-2015 21:32 | By Wingnut
Yet another motorcyclist needlessly dies because some incompetent driver turns in front of them. I was heading into Tauranga at the same time. It was dark so surely the driver of the car should have seen the approaching headlights?! I think some people should only be allowed on the road between 10am and 3pm, so they don't create havoc . As a truck driver I see horrendously stupid stuff almost every day.
Well Wingnut, before
Posted on 10-04-2015 08:15 | By earlybird
you pass judgement perhaps you should wait until you know the facts of the matter. There are always two sides to every story as you should know - and while we're at it I've seen plenty of incompetent driving by truck drivers.
PLEASE!
Posted on 10-04-2015 08:43 | By nerak
Wait for the facts before making assumptions! As someone has already commented in the other article on this:"all the emotive vindictiveness kicks in and all in sundry crucify the elderly, wait until we have all the facts, another very sad occurrence, but do not apportion blame to anyone, condolences to affected family and friends". This is not the time to vent without being fully informed.
nerak
Posted on 10-04-2015 11:05 | By Capt_Kaveman
i spose you say guns kill people when in fact guns do, at 84 no one at that age should be driving
@ Capt. Kaveman
Posted on 10-04-2015 14:38 | By The Sage
let's see if you make the age of 84 whether you will still be saying the same thing. I know several 84 year olds who are very competent drivers.
Conzar....
Posted on 11-04-2015 09:26 | By groutby
I couldn't agree with you less..If indeed (and I'm just saying..if) this car driver turned into the path of the motorcycle, then a young life was taken by the driver of that car, no more no less. The road was not to blame, and unless the car had a mechanical issue causing it to swerve violently across the road then there is one reason only why this happened. We all have rights and along with those rights come responsibilities, 84,48 or whatever age, as licenced drivers we share responsibility for our actions. To further automate our lives amongst other things will lead to a further reduction of us being able to think and act for ourselves, more importantly taking full and absolute responsibility for everything we do. Sincere condolences to all concerned here, very,very sad.
Really, Earlybird?
Posted on 11-04-2015 11:26 | By Wingnut
I spend 60 hours per week on the road. Yesterday alone in a 20km stretch of road I saw FOUR cars stray over the centreline, but I have only seen one truck do the same since Christmas. But yes there are two sides to every story.
Re automated driving,
Posted on 11-04-2015 15:22 | By Wingnut
I believe that the experimental autonomous cars so far have driver override capability. They are probably fine for motorway driving to get from A to B but could be a nightmare around town? I have also been a motorcyclist on and off for the last 30 years. If ALL road users took a bit more care, had a bit more patience, and didn't stray too far from the speed limit we'd have far fewer accidents. Then we wouldn't need robotic cars!
Greerton Boy....
Posted on 11-04-2015 19:41 | By groutby
I hold your thoughts re. autonomous cars and everything "it wasn't my fault" that goes with it..... just like a car driver cannot a motorcyclist and his partner go for a ride of an evening as anyone else may do and expect to get home safely of an evening?...Indeed, if a car turned into the path of a motorcycle at 50km/ph with the rider having only metres and a fraction of a second to react, then yes, the result is exactly as reported...and, even if (and once again, saying.."IF"..) the road speed of the motorcycles were a little above 50km/ph...does this give the right to the car driver to turn in front to stop this?..of course not!...Please, don't assume that the riders were at fault, that is the usual and easy way out..easy for statistics but incorrect.
Conzar
Posted on 14-04-2015 03:42 | By Kenworthlogger
Your comments are laughable. It is not up to the government to build cars or automated ones at that. Next you will complainyour taxes are too high lol. What planet are you living on??
Censorship? I will try again....
Posted on 15-04-2015 13:52 | By GreertonBoy
Again, condolences to the family left behind.... always terrible to lose a loved one. I say again, lets wait until the SCU has done their investigations before judging who is at fault? The picture in the other article shows a very bent motorbike and this article says "Police say Clinton crashed heavily into the car, which was being driven by an 84-year-old woman".... well one of the vehicles was obviously speeding to create the "heavily" part. Lets wait and see what the SCU comes up with before judging either driver or rider? By the way, young people saying older drivers should be taken off the road, should realise each day they themselves are getting older and closer to the date they want set, to take 'them' off the road.... be careful what you wish for...
Conzar
Posted on 16-04-2015 09:09 | By NR
By "automation" you mean drivers become less responsible for their actions as blame shifts to technology, and also cause drivers to be more inattentive? NOT a good idea...
Earlybird your wrong
Posted on 20-04-2015 08:11 | By Kenworthlogger
The proof is in the statistics. Trucks have more accident free kilometers than cars!!!
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