Head Hunter seriously injured in motorbike fall on SH1

A motorcyclist who suffered serious injuries after a crash on State Highway 1 in the Ruapehu District is understood to be a gang member who fell off their bike on the way back from a funeral in Foxton.

Police confirmed one person was in a serious condition after a singlevehicle crash on SH1 near Rangipo around 4.30pm on Monday.

The Herald understands the rider in a serious condition after the crash in the Desert Road area is a member of the Head Hunters East, returning to Auckland from the funeral of William ‘Bird’ Hines near Foxton.

A police spokesperson said they responded to the incident at 4.38pm on Monday.

The Serious Crash Unit was notified.

Police said the Rangipo stretch of

State Highway 1 was closed with diversions in place.

The road was closed for several hours south of Tū rangi between the SH1/SH46 intersection and the SH1/ SH41 intersection, reopening overnight on Monday.

On Saturday, around 100 gang members made the 500km procession journey on motorcycles from the Head Hunters’ East Auckland headquarters to Foxton for the tangi at Motuiti marae.

Senior Head Hunter member, Hines, came from the Foxton area and was buried alongside other family members at the Motuiti Marae urupā at Hīmatangi.

Hines was serving a 17-year prison sentence for running a methamphetamine syndicate, but was released by the Parole Board late last year on compassionate grounds.

He was living with type 2 diabetes, which required dialysis every second day and resulted in limb amputation, heart disease and end-stage renal failure.

Hines was released from prison shortly before his 70th birthday, and had been living with a family member who provided 24/7 care in his final months.