The motorcyclist who died after a head-on crash with a ute on Christmas night in South Wairarapa was 66-year-old Clifford Irving from Lower Hutt.
Police say Mr Irving had been heading south on State Highway 2 on Sunday when he crashed into a northbound ute near the bottom of the Rimutaka Hill at about 7.15pm.
He died at the scene.
The northbound lane was blocked for a few hours while the Serious Crash Unit investigated.
A woman who drove past the crash just minutes after it happened said the victim’s body was on the back of the ute.
She said people were “pretty distressed”.
“We saw a couple of people looking at the rider.”
The Featherston Fire Brigade assisted with road control and were helped by members of the public who had pulled over.
A sad Christmas for a family, encountered this on my way home last night, not a pretty site. Many drivers on the road this time of year, in a hurry to get to their holiday destination or not focused on the road or their surroundings. Thoughts to those at the scene and to the family of Mr irving. Drive safe people
Old Telecom workmate and lived in Featherston for a whil