By Emily Norman
A Masterton motorcyclist is dead after colliding with a vehicle towing a trailer that crossed the centre line.
Police said the man had been heading south on SH2 on his blue BMW motorbike just north of Eketahuna at noon yesterday when a north-bound car and trailer crossed into his lane.
The motorcyclist had hit the driver’s side of the car and died on impact, police said.
He was wearing a helmet and protective gear.
Because of his “significant” head and facial injuries, the motorcyclist was not able to be identified at the scene.
The speed limit in that area is 100kmh.
A police officer said the driver of the car was “beside themselves” with what had unfolded in a short timeframe.
“The motorcycle has extensive damage and is a write-off,” he said.
“The car has a bit of damage on one side.”
The body of the motorcyclist was taken from the scene at about 2.30pm.
A road worker assisting with the diversion had seen the motorbike being towed from the scene.
It was placed at the front of the tow truck with the silver car parked behind.
At the rear was the yellow trailer.
The road worker said there was “nothing left of [the bike]” – “just the motor and some bent metal”.
“I’ve seen this type of thing a lot,” he said.
“It just goes to show how quickly things can go wrong when you’re on the road.”
A paramedic from the area was one of the first on the scene and had made the first call to police.
The Serious Crash Unit is investigating and it is understood police visited the crash victim’s address yesterday.
SH2 was closed from Bridge St at the southern end of Eketahuna to North Rd, about 5km north of the town, from 12pm.
Sunday traffic quickly banked up along the diversion, which had shifted traffic along Nireaha Rd to meet back up with North Rd.
The diversion added about half an hour to the journey.
SH2 was reopened at 3.50pm.
The man’s name has not been confirmed by Police.
