Johnny ‘Danger’ killed in crash
Social media star Johnny ‘Danger’ Bennett has died in a motorbike crash in north Auckland, friends say.
Emergency services were called to a single-vehicle crash on Dairy Flat Highway around 2.30pm yesterday.
Close friend Julian RiversSmith has confirmed that Bennett was killed in the crash.
‘‘He was a lovely and caring person,’’ an emotional RiversSmith said.
Police said they were unable to confirm the identity of the dead man at this time.
A fellow motorcyclist, who was riding with Bennett at the time of the crash, said he helped with initial first aid but didn’t know Bennett personally.
He said 30 to 50 riders had come together for an Anzac Day ride, and became separated due to traffic.
‘‘I got to a point where everyone was signalling to stop because a guy had come off, so I went over to help,’’ said the man, who didn’t want to be identified.
‘‘When I got to him he was unconscious and bleeding.
‘‘I only knew his name was Johnny, because everyone was calling him that, I didn’t know he was anyone famous until later,’’ he said.
Emergency crews worked at the scene of the crash for several hours to recover the motorbike, which had gone down a steep ditch.
Earlier, a group of people at the scene had comforted each other as the body was recovered.
Facebook page Alcanews posted a video reportedly of Bennett and fellow bikers at a petrol station one hour before the crash.
Tributes were pouring in on the self-described ‘‘amateur stuntman’s’’ Facebook page, which had a quarter of a million followers.
Friends said they were ‘‘lost for words’’.
‘‘I’m struggling to believe it . . . Thanks for bringing an unbelievable amount of laughs into my life,’’ one said.
‘‘You lived more in your short life than most live in there entire life. Cheers for the good times, laughs and smiles dude,’’ said another.
Musician and friend Richie Cattel said Bennett was someone who ‘‘made everyone laugh and helped a lot of people through rough times by bringing a smile to their face’’.
The Rhythm and Vines festival Instagram account had also paid tribute to Bennett.
Bennett has had a reputation for reckless behaviour.
In 2015, he lost his driver’s licence and was fined $1000 after filming himself crossing Auckland’s Harbour Bridge car surfing on the roof of a taxi while it was travelling at about 80kmh.