Motorcyclists warned to take care
The deaths of two more motorcyclists on Northland roads has prompted police to advise people to drive to conditions and to their ability.
Saturday's crashes have pushed Northland's road death toll for this year to nine, of which four were motorcyclists.
Sergeant Dylan Robinson of Mid-North police said a car and a motorcycle collided on State Highway 12, between Taheke and the Rawene turnoff, near the junction with Duddy Rd in Omanaia about 2pm on Saturday.
The crash happened when the motorcyclist, a 46-year-old Northland man, tried to overtake the car on a bend.
The motorcyclist died at the scene. The male driver of the car suffered serious injuries and was flown to Auckland City Hospital.
Robinson said the car caught fire after the crash, ignited nearby bush, and started a significant scrub fire.
Rawene and Kaikohe fire brigades spent more than three hours fighting the blaze.
In the other crash, a motorcyclist hit the side of a bridge on Tangowahine Valley Rd about 4pm on Saturday.
Senior Sergeant Daniel Cleaver said initial investigations showed the northbound motorcyclist, a 63-year-old man from Auckland, failed to take a moderate bend going over the bridge.
He said motorcyclists should ride to the conditions and to their ability.
"If you aren't sure of the roads, slow down a wee bit. That should allow you time to see ahead. Both crashes occurred on a bend which indicates the motorcyclists were not sure where the road was going."