Tourist sees truck hit her husband

A TOURIST could only watch as her husband was fatally struck as he crossed a busy Napier road yesterday.

Senior Sergeant Greg Brown said initial inquiries suggested the couple had been walking their bikes across the busy road near the intersection of State Highway 2B and Meeanee Quay about 5pm.

‘‘The wife had successfully crossed the road, but unfortunately the husband did not.’’

The man was struck by a light truck near the centre of the road, despite the truck braking heavily to avoid the collision, Brown said. He died in Hawke’s Bay Hospital.

‘‘Tragically, this appears to be an error in judgment that has resulted in the worst possible outcome for all concerned.’’

Witnesses said two cyclists tried to negotiate their way across the highway to the other side.

They may have been trying to get access to a cycle track there, Brown said.

The truck was travelling towards Napier at the time, and with the merge/turning lanes where the couple tried to cross, the road was effectively four lanes wide.

The weather was fine, but it was a busy time for the intersection. ‘‘Unfortunately the man’s wife has witnessed the crash, which is horrific, and our hearts go out to her and her family.’’

The driver of the truck and two other witnesses were traumatised by what they saw. They had been offered support by Victim Support.

The Serious Crash Unit will investigate the cause.

The man’s identity was known, but his name would not be made public until police had advised his family.

The intersection is in the top 5 for serious and fatal crashes in the country, and was the scene of a near-fatal collision between a logging truck and a car a few months ago. The Transport Agency plans to install a roundabout at the intersection in 2016-17.

‘‘It is one of those intersections that for some unexplained reason people keep making mistakes with,’’ Brown said. ‘‘The speed has previously been reduced to 80kmh to reduce the risk but perhaps this needs to be explored further in light of the latest crashes.’’

‘This appears to be an error in judgment that has resulted in the worst possible outcome.’

Senior Sergeant Greg Brown