David Baker. PHOTO/FILE
Assistance earns praise
The 70-year-old man critically injured in a crash on Ngaumutawa Rd on Wednesday is the founder of consultancy firm BakerAg and Rotarian, David Baker.
He was cycling at about midday when he collided with an unladen water tanker near the intersection of Ngaumutawa Rd and Cornwall St.
He was treated at the scene for lacerations to the head before being taken to Wairarapa Hospital, police said.
He was then transferred to Wellington Hospital’s intensive care unit where he remained in a critical condition on Thursday.
A witness employed at PGG Wrightson Seeds Masterton, located in front of the crash site, said the workers did not see the crash but heard it.
“We saw the cyclist laying in the middle of the road and the truck had stopped in the middle of the road.
“People were helping him lie comfortably [where he was hit] then we saw the ambulance come in.”
Detective Constable Matt Wailling said police were looking for witnesses who may have either seen the incident itself or Baker cycling earlier that day so they could build a picture of his movements.
He was riding a blue bike and wearing a blue helmet.
“Some people made themselves known to us at the time but there may have been people that were there and saw it happen who may have left prior to police arrival,” Wailling said.
“It would be really great if we could speak to those people.
“Police want to thank the members of the public who had stopped and were assisting ambo staff prior to police arrival, as well as those who were keeping the scene safe by directing traffic.”
Baker was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2014.
He established Baker and Associates in Masterton in 1986 after working as a farm management consultant and registered valuer since 1969.
He also worked as a court-sitting Justice of the Peace.
As a Rotarian, he was instrumental in presenting a refurbished bus to be used as a mobile health clinic in Rarotonga in 2018.
I wonder if it was the same water tanker that nearly got me on Longbush Road a couple of months ago. No other traffic, I was riding at the edge of the seal and the driver gave me elbow room only. Scarily close. Silver tank, no branding on the back.