Not again (River Road, Upper Hutt, 16 December)

[Hailwood]

Just come past River Road which is closed due to an accident......Seems its a head on car vs motorcycle..I can only hope its not someone from here...........any news?

[bistard]

I am at work at the moment,just had a customer in saying there was an accident involving a bike,that all I have heard so far
I bloody hope they are all right,we have had enough bad news !!!!!

[skelstar]

If you find out who it is DO NOT post their name on this forum.

[jade]

its dangerous out there, I hate the festive season

[sunhuntin]

bugger....chirstmas sucks!! hope whoever they are is alright and will recover fast.

[MSTRS]

Yea...no names...just whether rider is OK. Fingers crossed.

[KATWYN]

:sweatdrop :sweatdrop oh no...................

[Madness]

A friend of mine is stuck in the resulting traffic jam. he heard it was a fatal motorcycle accident & rang to make sure i was okay. The bastard woke me up, busy ZZZing after the work doo last night.

Time to end this stuff now please. Let's be careful out there eh?

[Sketchy_Racer]

ahhhh shit

Tis a Dark season.

I wish it was all a bad dream. :(

[Disco Dan]

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=40647 (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=40647)

[MD]

This is terrible. Now everyone who knows someone who rides in Wellington is going to be upset waiting for confirmation one way or the other. With such a small population of riders there's a high probability that we know most riders around town, even just as someone we wave to once in a while. In which case these sorts of news alerts do cause distress.
No one should post details that ID the rider(or bike description) until it's publicly know i.e. in the papers . But for goodness sake if you have an ideal and know of people who may be mistakenly upset by rumour/half truths/whatever, then send them a pm but keep to facts. Speculations and guesses don't help anyone.

[Deano]

If anyone knows it it is can they please PM me so I know who it isn't ?

[Sketchy_Racer]

What deano said :yes:

Thanks

[merv]

Wasn't me. I heard about it on the radio, didn't know a bike was involved, but I was safely driving my car to the airport to pick up my lovely daughter who was coming home for the holidays.

Str8 Jacket sent me a text (I presume this was to as many as she knows) checking if everyone was OK. Thanks for that Hels.

Take care all and make sure you have a happy Christmas and make it to Wanganui.

[NighthawkNZ]

Hate hearing this... :crybaby: :weep:

I hate this time of year....
Ride right, ride safe and have a good and safe xmas... Life to ride, Ride to life

[Slingshot]

If anyone knows it it is can they please PM me so I know who it isn't ?

Ditto.....

[Fatjim]

I wasn't me.

[limbimtimwim]

Not I.

10chars

[sels1]

I wasn't me.

Ditto.........

[bistard]

Hey guys,hows the bush telegraph going,has anybody heard any news yet???

[nudemetalz]

Not us either.
:(

[phoenixgtr]

Not me, but I'd like a PM if it was someone I know

[sunhuntin]

theres a thread on trademe, but no info has been put up about either vehicles. all i can tell is it was a fatal, but i dont know on what side.

[bex]

Ceebie and I were out and about today. Had to be re-directed at Silverstream turnoff 'cos SH2 was closed. Looked a bit serious. Hope whoever was involved is ok.

[Madness]

I just read elsewhere that a car crossed the double-yellows and collided into a bike. There was mention of some "jostling" between this car and another before this happened. Sounds like there may have been some cage-rage resulting from a bad merge at the Silverstream turnoff northbound before River Road. Forgive the speculation, this has me worried on all sorts of levels.

[iwilde]

Just come past River Road which is closed due to an accident......Seems its a head on car vs motorcycle..I can only hope its not someone from here...........any news?

Are you saying it's ok if it's not a KB member? It's still a tragic event either way and the same amount of respect should be shown.

[What?]

Are you saying it's ok if it's not a KB member? It's still a tragic event either way and the same amount of respect should be shown.

My thoughts exactly. Every time there's a report about a crash, a number of people consider it necessary to say "hope it's no-one from here", like being a KB member makes you matter more than others, or something.

[Clockwork]

You guys are being a bit precious….. all people are saying is that they hope its not someone they know, perhaps a friend.

[SixPackBack]

My thoughts exactly. Every time there's a report about a crash, a number of people consider it necessary to say "hope it's no-one from here", like being a KB member makes you matter more than others, or something.

I think its more a case "is it someone from my family" [KB]. Naturally the closer the relationship between an individual and victim the higher the impact.
Its a natural reaction to death, not callous or cold hearted. Collectively we all care a great deal regardless of details.

[Dafe]

Are you saying it's ok if it's not a KB member?

I think you'll find thats not the case. However with the tragic events of late, I think the close knit community of WGTN KB'ers have shed enough tear and pain over the last fortnight. Another fatality among us now would be devastatingly hard to deal with. Especially when you consider, It was a car that crossed the mid line straight into the motorcyclist, apparantly as a result of road rage.

Any news on whether the rider was a KB'er?

I too would appreciate a PM if anybody knows.

[What?]

I think its more a case "is it someone from my family" [KB]. Naturally the closer the relationship between an individual and victim the higher the impact.
Its a natural reaction to death, not callous or cold hearted. Collectively we all care a great deal regardless of details.

Not disagreeing with that at all, it's all about thinking about how you say what you say at certain times.

[Shiner]

Hi Bex
Sure hope ithe crash was not serious. nice to see you here. Take care on that rear seat.

[doc]

I think you'll find thats not the case. However with the tragic events of late, I think the close knit community of WGTN KB'ers have shed enough tear and pain over the last fortnight. Another fatality among us now would be devastatingly hard to deal with. Especially when you consider, It was a car that crossed the mid line straight into the motorcyclist, apparantly as a result of road rage.

Any news on whether the rider was a KB'er?

I too would appreciate a PM if anybody knows.

Hang on this is bit of a Quantum leap isn't it no one has been confirmed killed and already the RUMCON HQ (Rumour control) already has the cause of accident and different plot confirmed ie result of road rage. This may eventually turn out to have some truth but let the the truth come out first. Speculation only hurts the ones who know. Pointless until you know the facts

[Hailwood]

iwilde I certainly did not suggest what you are implying and I am sorry if you and what? took that inference...the paper this morning had a small piece saying that a car had cut the motorcyclist off causing him/her to veer off the road causing the fatality...no rumour there just what is printed in the paper...of course how reliable the news media can be is another matter entirely.

[MSTRS]

So it wasn't a head on? Therefore it is safe to assume that the fatality was the rider? Still hope that is no-one we all 'know'.

[Hailwood]

Mstrs the rider was the fatality according to the paper

[bell]

http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/488120/935803

[bistard]

I was just searching through xtras news page & they are quoted as saying a male motorcyclist died in Upper Hutt yesterday,Still no names so keep contacting everyone we now guys!!

[Colapop]

Thanks for the concern guys - I'm safe. I got a few texts asking if I was ok.

Please be careful. Remember that although we ride as safely as we can, riding is inherently dangerous - we have to be more vigilent than anyone else on the roads.

[Clivoris]

Not me either.

[crashe]

Just spoken to "Riffer" on the phone.... It aint him...

He is about to feed his face with a early family christmas meal and family get together.

[Hailwood]

So TVNZ says it was a head on and Sunday Star Times says the car cut the bike off forcing it off the road...and people wonder why rumours and half truths get started!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[paturoa]

...and people wonder why rumours and half truths get started.......

version 3 - Harold today - "In Wellington, a motorcyclist was killed after being cut off by another vehicle along Eastern Hutt Road in Wellington"

[doc]

So TVNZ says it was a head on and Sunday Star Times says the car cut the bike off forcing it off the road...and people wonder why rumours and half truths get started!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is the problem the masses believe what they see/read in the media.,frequently thats the last report they notice and what they believe. The media has to be held more accountable for accuracy not speed in reporting. Also its getting a bit graphic,which people seem to want more of. I blame playstation because its so real. Maybe the kids learn to ride like Rossi on the game and then so try to do it on the road.

[Hailwood]

Good call Doc. I used to believe in what I read but, having seen what actually happens with truth vs reported fact (half fact)I now take it all with a grain of salt..........I spoke with one journo once who actually admitted they are in the business of selling newspapers not reporting the news!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Hitcher]

The media will report what they have learned from the attending emergency services, unless they happened to have a reporter there first-hand. Emergency services personnel, lovely people that they are, are not above publicly guessing as to the cause of an accident. In the case of Mrs H's accident nearly two years ago, they were speculating to the media that she had been blown off her bike. They may have been right, but that comment was pure speculation, as Mrs H has no knowledge of what happened, nor do I as first at the scene.

Anyway, our thoughts go out to the rider killed yesterday in Upper Hutt and to their family. While there is never a good time to die, one week before Christmas is not a good look. I have first-hand knowledge gathered as recently as yesterday that there are some brain-dead oinks out there driving cars who don't give a shit about whoever else maybe on the road -- especially bikers. So let's be careful out there, OK?

[kiwisfly]

Agree with Hitcher...no time is a good tme to die especially this time of year.
Now is about goodwill to all man not "can I score more points if I take out the motorcyclist" in some sort of sick real life video game #^%$*.
RIP to a fellow motorcyclist, KB family or not & thoughts are with family at this time of year.

[Meekey_Mouse]

Oh man... Been away over the weekend and come back to this. My condolences to the family members, friends and any one who knew the motorcyclist.

As others have said... ride safely people!!! Every one is so stressed at this time of year, we really (REALLY!) need to ride defensively and safely.

Take care every one :)

Jas

[riffer]

People are driving (and riding) like fucking idiots down River Road this weekend.

We nearly got taken off the road in our Odyssey last night by two guys (WRX & 200SX) who wanted to get onto River Road as fast as they could from the Maoribank lights going south. Just got our composure back and some fucktard in a BMW 328 goes past us full throttle doing at least 160 as the lanes merged just before Upper Hutt turnoff, straddling the yellow lines.

Fuck this. I give up. I'm not riding the bike recreationally around here for a few weeks. It's too dangerous around here at the moment. :eek5:

[Madness]

I rode through there today. The paint markings from the SCU left on the road clearly show what happened, not why. I know one thing from seeing these today, it all happened very quickly... very, very quickly.

RIP fellow biker.

[Mom]

...there are some brain-dead oinks out there driving cars who don't give a shit about whoever else maybe on the road -- especially bikers. So let's be careful out there, OK?

What you just said!!!!!

Take care eh guys.........:yes:

[quickbuck]

Just got back from my fallen cousins funeral myself (yep, bike accident on SH99 Tuesday).
Now this.
RIP to the fallen Wellington Biker too...
This is getting all too frequent.

[Shadows]

I rode through there today. The paint markings from the SCU left on the road clearly show what happened, not why. I know one thing from seeing these today, it all happened very quickly... very, very quickly.

RIP fellow biker.

Yes, I had a look this morning as well. Judging by those markings and the extremely short skidmark left by the car (there were none by the bike that I could see) it did happen very quickly.

One of the emergency personnel in attendance said that could not readily identify the make of bike. Obviously he had more important things to do at the time than inspect the wreck. What he does know was that the bike was faired, bright red, and definately did impact the car.

RIP, fellow biker. Sincere condolences to his family and friends.

[Shadows]

Such a small world we live in.

From what I know now I'd say that it is rather unlikely that he would have been an active member of KB, if he was a member at all. Not that that should reduce the tragedy in any way.

[Wasp]

well this sucks, as you all may have noticed I havnt been on kb since friday so if anyone thought i'd got my bike back and gone riding dont worry it wasnt me

[crazybigal]

was not i
r.i.p rider:bye:

[merv]

Death notice is in this morning's Dom Post, seems like it was a 32 year old from Masterton. Not anyone I knew.

RIP Biker.

[Colapop]

I will just reiterate the message -

Be careful

[Lissa]

Death notice is in this morning's Dom Post, seems like it was a 32 year old from Masterton. Not anyone I knew.

RIP Biker.OH GOD....

RIP Biker....

Does anyone have a name of the person, they could pm it to me?

[judecatmad]

Wasn't Dave or I. But we did go past just minutes after the accident happened, on our way out to the airport. I was praying that it wasn't as serious as it looked. Sadly, no.

My thoughts are once again with the family and friends of the rider :(

PLEASE everyone, stay safe over Christmas.

[Lord Derosso]

it wasn't me neither as I live in Wellington South and of course I am replying to more terrible news. I try and keep to lawful speeds at all times BUT I have had so many close calls the last year or so I sometimes feel like giving the biking away. It wasn't anywhere near as bad as this when I started back in the 70's and nor was it anywhere near as bad 10 years ago. Too many fast imports with idiot kids behind them? I dont have the answer but this accident seems to point out the fact that anything can happen at anytime so we all need to be really careful. My advice has always been to allow a good space between you and the guy in front of you and if that offends the buttholes behind you, let them pass. Its just not worth trying to be #1 all the time. I leave that until I hit the country roads. Then its watching out for stock.

[apteryx_haasti]

I also passed this accident shortly after it happened (taking JCM and hubby to the airport)...it looked really bad but we were hoping that the biker was somehow ok.

This one really makes me angry/sad as well because the biker was not doing a solitary thing wrong and was (apparently) taken out by some bastard going the other way and being a prick.

I hope they can do the driver of the car and put him/her away for a long time.

RIP biker. Thoughts go out to all who knew you.

[Hitcher]

Rhys Douglas Gard, aged 32 of Masterton, according to this morning's DominionPost.

Deepest sympathies to his family and friends.

[quickbuck]

Thanks Hitcher.

Condolences to Rhys's Family and Friends.

Very sad Christmas for them, I'm sure.

Stay safe everybody.

[James Deuce]

I hope they can do the driver of the car and put him/her away for a long time.



It's a traffic "accident". Those are acceptable in NZ. It will be unlikely that the chap in question will receive anything other than a fine (which won't be paid) and a license suspension (which will be ignored).

As long as we continue to wrap murderous behaviour on the road in the etymology of an "accident", people will continue to behave in ways that show an utter lack of concern for other road users.

RIP Rhys.

[apteryx_haasti]

It's a traffic "accident". Those are acceptable in NZ. It will be unlikely that the chap in question will receive anything other than a fine (which won't be paid) and a license suspension (which will be ignored).

As long as we continue to wrap murderous behaviour on the road in the etymology of an "accident", people will continue to behave in ways that show an utter lack of concern for other road users.



You're right. And that is so wrong...

[Bend-it]

Condolences to the Gard family...

[RantyDave]

It's a traffic "accident".
I'm not sure it was. By the sounds of it the cager in question was on the wrong side of a double yellow, and there were witnesses to road rage'y behaviour. To me that says a prosecution for dangerous driving causing death for which, if we're lucky, the cager in question may actually do time.

If we're lucky. Unlike Rhys, and unlike his family. RIP fallen biker, again.

As an aside I've just returned from a meeting in town and about 2k short of home I come round a blind (hedges etc) left hander to find a honda odyssey in the middle of the road overtaking a cyclist. Overtaking in the glacial sense, that is, and said people mover continued this diabolical manoevre round the corner until it was out of sight. I was a few K's slower than usual and had plenty of time to assess the situation and generally speaking come off my line and do something about it but on another day we might have been having another of those treads.

The holidays have started and they're all out now. Be careful, eh?

Dave

[James Deuce]

Read my post again Dave. I was taking the piss out of the way anything that happens on the road is automatically deemed an accident and treated accordingly.

[Lissa]

I didnt know him, thought I might with him being my age and from Masters.. condolances to the family.

When I went to featherston on saturday I was followed extremely close by a car, I mean so close I was sure if I braked a little it would have rammed me up the butt. I kept looking behind me, to tell her to back off, she just got closer to me... and this was in a 50k area.... luckly I managed to pull over and let her pass because I felt really unsafe. I dont get it... when I drive a car, I always (even before I had a bike) let a lot of room between me and a bike.... some people just suck!:angry:

[KATWYN]

she just got closer to me... and this was in a 50k area.... luckly I managed to pull over and let her pass because I felt really unsafe. :

You have encountered the motorcycle terrorist. Sadly they do exist and
they are out there. Pure evil

[mazz1972]

I knew the Gard family for a while many years ago (although I hardly knew Rhys). He was a biker back then so has been riding for many years.
The family is formerly of Pukerua Bay & Raumati South (Kapiti) so Rhys probably still had friends in Wellington & Kapiti. Not sure if he lived in Masterton himself but his parents live in the Wairarapa.

Very sad news indeed...RIP Rhys.

:(

[Stormer]

Years ago a mate at work injured himself, and I had to ride his bike home.
I noticed that when I rode his old Triumph with high rise bars, matt black helmet and big ol` leather jacket with the gnarley security chain over my shoulder, all cars for some reason gave me HEAPS of room...
I`m from Masterton myself, so my thoughts go out to the rider and family.

[quickbuck]

I didnt know him, thought I might with him being my age and from Masters.. condolances to the family.

When I went to featherston on saturday I was followed extremely close by a car, I mean so close I was sure if I braked a little it would have rammed me up the butt. I kept looking behind me, to tell her to back off...


I find putting in some BIG steering effort (as in countersteering) so you weave within your lane usually makes them back off.
:done:

[skelstar]

Hmm...I grew up in Pukerua Bay and went to Kapiti College...wonder if I knew his older brother or something...

Ah...Lance Gard. Sounds familiar.

My condolences to the Gard family.

[Terminated]

Condolences to the family and may we keep them in our prayers this Christmas Eve.

RIP Rhys

[Morepower]

I find putting in some BIG steering effort (as in countersteering) so you weave within your lane usually makes them back off.
:done:

Nah , Lisa did the best thing , pull over and let them go , I know its rewarding unsafe behaviour but its better than being at risk.

[jord]

Rhys Douglas Gard, aged 32 of Masterton, according to this morning's DominionPost.

Deepest sympathies to his family and friends.

RIP fellow biker. Sad to see so many bikers falling away lets do our best to keep the biker road toll down this holiday a guys?(and girls) Deepest sympathies to the Gard family...

[Pex Adams]

RIP Rhys. My deepest symphathies to the families and friends he has left behind.

[Insanity_rules]

RIP fallen biker and my condolences to their family and friends. I drive/ ride that road every day as a concequence of living in Brown Owl. You wouldn't believe how stupid people can be on the river road.

Many times I've been cut off at the south bound merge past gibons street, passed on the double yellows at the one lane bit and the list goes on.

As much as I like to have a nice quick ride, I feel the police should be camped out on that road to stop this stuff. I only moved to Akatarawa a couple of weeks ago and the driver antic's on the homeward stretch are a REAL eye opener.

[sels1]

Nah , Lisa did the best thing , pull over and let them go , I know its rewarding unsafe behaviour but its better than being at risk.

Yeah, not only is it safer for you, it gives you a chance to read and memorise their number plate.


Condolences to the Gard family and friends.

[mazz1972]

Hmm...I grew up in Pukerua Bay and went to Kapiti College...wonder if I knew his older brother or something...

Ah...Lance Gard. Sounds familiar.

My condolences to the Gard family.

Yep Skels Lance is Rhys' older brother.

[quickbuck]

Nah , Lisa did the best thing , pull over and let them go , I know its rewarding unsafe behaviour but its better than being at risk.

Yep, okay. What ever is the most comfortable at the time.

[Scorpygirl]

RIP to the fallen rider even tho we did not know him. Condolences to family and friends!!!

[Titanium]

R.I.P fallen biker ......

[u4ea]

R.I.P rhys