Woman dies in gully after mountain bike crash

Mystery surrounded the identity of a woman who died at the weekend after smashing into a pine tree while riding her mountain bike down a steep Hamilton gully.

The woman, aged about 30, who was found face down in a creek in Edgecumbe Park yesterday morning, was riding her bike down the steep gully footpath when she missed a bend and went across grass before landing in the shallow water.

Hamilton Police Acting Senior Sergeant Pete Whittaker said the Polynesian woman was effectively "clotheslined" by the dead pine tree which was lying across and above the creek.

"The young woman's missed the corner and gone straight. She's realised at the last minute and braked but it was too late.

"She's been thrown off her bike. It's just one of those terrible things."

Coincidentally the footpath was closed for repair but police said the accident was not the result of the work.
It's believed the accident happened overnight on Saturday.

A teenage couple walking from Hamilton Central Baptist Church in Charlemont St found the body about 11.30am.

They were said to be distraught at the discovery and were being interviewed by police. Police were today to carry out formal identification procedures, including fingerprinting.

- © Fairfax NZ News