Speedy skateboarders 'have deathwish'

Skateboarders who filmed themselves passing a truck on a hilly stretch of road south of Auckland at speeds which could have reached nearly 100kmh, had a death wish, police say.

Footage has appeared on YouTube which appears to show six skateboarders in the Bombay Hills south of Auckland entering the road, gathering speed and being passed by a truck before their speed built up and one of them passed the truck.

One of the skateboarders wore a crash helmet but had bare feet as he was passed by his colleague who had a camera mounted on his crash helmet.

Sergeant Stu Kearns, from the Waitemata serious crash unit, said anyone using a skateboard on a road like that had a death wish.

He said it would eventually end in serious injury or death and, at that speed, a crash helmet was unlikely to save them from serious injury or death.

The skateboarder who posted the clip was thought to be Canadian Andrew Chapman who apparently travelled the North Island last summer. He posted the clip on Facebook and it was found and put on YouTube.

Police said the skateboarders could face charges of failing to keep left or careless driving.

- NZPA