Taranaki has first road fatality of year

A New Plymouth motorcyclist has become the first person to die on Taranaki roads in 2010.

The 48-year-old man, from New Plymouth, was killed after losing control of his Triumph Daytona on SH43, about 26km from Stratford on Saturday.

He was one of five people, including three motorcyclists to die on the country's roads on the weekend.

The police Serious Crash Unit, of Palmerston North, is investigating the accident, which happened about 2.30pm.

The man, who is believed to have moved to New Zealand from the UK in the last 10 years, has a partner in New Plymouth and an adult son living in the UK.

Kerry Wallis, owner of Triple Fourensics in Opunake where the victim used to have his bike serviced, said he was a jovial guy.

"You couldn't have asked for a better guy and I say that in all sincerity," Mr Wallis said.

"He was very much into learning how to improve his riding."

He loved New Zealand, Mr Wallis said.

Constable Andrew Russ said it appeared the man failed to take a bend and went through a fence and into a paddock.

Mr Russ said the weather was fine and the road was dry at the time of the accident. The man died at the scene. "At this stage, speed appears to be the only early indication of why this has occurred," Mr Russ said.

Last year four motorcyclists died on Taranaki roads and Mr Russ didn't want to see that number repeated.

"One is one too many," Mr Russ said.

On Saturday two motorcyclists were killed in separate accidents.

A 30-year-old male died after a collision with a car on SH25, about 3km south of Tairua, in the Coromandel.

A 38-year-old male was killed in a collision with a car in the central North Island, about 22km south-east of Te Kuiti.

On Friday night a Brazilian national, Anderson Luiz Dos Santos, 32, who had been living in Queenstown, died in hospital after a two car crash on SH6.

Yesterday afternoon a man died after crashing his car into a power pole in Invercargill. The impact caused little damage to the car and power pole but the man died a short time later, after being taken to Southland Hospital for treatment.

- © Fairfax NZ News