Marathon ride cut short by fatal crash

Two motorcyclists taking part in a rally where competitors attempt to ride 2000 kilometres in 48 hours collided in Golden Downs yesterday, leaving one dead and the other in hospital.

Detective Senior Sergeant Wayne McCoy of the Nelson CIB said investigations into the crash were at an early stage, but it was believed that one of the riders crashed into the back of the other one.

The accident happened on Stock Rd, which runs between St Arnaud and Belgrove.

The men were taking part in the TT2000 South Island, an event where riders attempt to ride 2000km in 48 hours.

The deceased, a 44-year-old man from the Far North, died at the scene. He will not be named until he has been formally identified.

The survivor, a 50-year-old Northland man, was in a comfortable condition in Nelson Hospital today. He was flown to hospital by the Summit rescue helicopter with a suspected neck injury and concussion.

Mr McCoy said the men were riding towards Belgrove when the accident happened on a straight piece of road in good condition.

He said it was too early to say if speed was a factor.

The event organisers could not be contacted, but the TT2000 South Island website said riders attempted to ride 1000km on both Saturday and Sunday.

It said the route was designed for riders to keep an average speed of below 70kmh and "thus within a good margin of safe riding".

Mr McCoy said police would like to hear from two other motorcyclists who were heading south on Stock Rd at the time and may have seen the two riders.

A couple of hours after the crash, a 54-year-old Stoke man was hospitalised after falling from his motorcycle near Kikiwa. St John Ambulance operations manager Jon Leach said the man suffered moderate chest and arm injuries.

- © Fairfax NZ News