Teen motorcyclist dies in Palmerston North (11 April)

[Beemer]

Just got this alert through from the police:

Location of incident: Palmerston North

Incident type: Fatal Crash

At 1535hrs this afternoon emergency services were called to the scene of a crash between a motorcycle and car at the intersections of Walding and Taonui Streets in Palmerston North. The male rider of the motorcycle, believed to be in his late teens, has died while enroute to Palmerston North hospital via ambulance.

Requests for further information should be directed to Palmerston North Police.
Issued By: Team Leader Kirsty McDonald

[Pex Adams]

oh shit - not a good start to the weekend. RIP young rider

[EJT]

Sorry to hear that. RIP rider and condolences to the family.

[offrd]

Yep prety crap alright........

RIP.

[skidMark]

3.35 late teens...high chance he was coming home from school...

R.I.P young fella.

Remember guys, cars don't see you.

EDIT: I think the motorcycle license age needs raising to 18

[Beemer]

Update on Stuff tonight:

A Dannevirke teenager died after a motorcycle crash in Palmerston North this afternoon.

The crash happened at the intersection of Walding and Taonui streets about 3.30pm when the motorcycle and a car collided.

Palmerston North police Constable Steve Crawford said the 15-year-old youth, who was riding the motorcycle, died in an ambulance while en route to Palmerston North Hospital.

The occupants of the car were not hurt.

Mr Crawford said driving conditions at the time of the accident were good.

Police are looking for witnesses, and anyone who saw the accident. (Um, wouldn't they be one and the same?)

[bandit_girl]

Sad to hear :(

[simonantz]

My heart goes to his parents and family !

[MyGSXF]

Very sad to see a young one leave us.. :bye:

thoughts go to his family & friends... :grouphug:

[Grub]

It appears he was from Dannevirke ...

"Teen motorcyclist dies after collision
A Dannevirke teenager died after a motorcycle crash in Palmerston North this afternoon."

Sad, sad, sad.

[CookMySock]

AHHHH FUCK!!!!!!!!

I'm about to buy my 14 yearold beautiful boy (15 next month) a nice 250 for his birthday. But news like this makes me rethink every time.

DAMMIT DAMMIT DAMMIT DAMMIT!!!

DB

[McJim]

There we all go but for the grace of god. Thoughts with those he left behind.

[PrincessBandit]

AHHHH FUCK!!!!!!!!

I'm about to buy my 14 yearold beautiful boy (15 next month) a nice 250 for his birthday. But news like this makes me rethink every time.

DAMMIT DAMMIT DAMMIT DAMMIT!!!

DB

My 16 year old rides my GN to and from school most days and along some pretty busy stretches of road. It was very scary letting him do it the first few times and I'd make him text as soon as he got to school etc. In the back of my mind I still worry a little when he goes out on the bike but we all had to learn and start somewhere; I'm thankful he had so many years as a cyclist to develop his road awareness. But our babies are always our babies no matter how much we have to accept they're growing up and have to make their own way in the world. We can only protect them so much. Good on you for having those doubts and concerns - IMO it makes you a better dad than one who would just get their child a bike or car and pretty much just let them loose.
My heart goes out to the family who have just lost their precious son.

[Beemer]

AHHHH FUCK!!!!!!!!

I'm about to buy my 14 yearold beautiful boy (15 next month) a nice 250 for his birthday. But news like this makes me rethink every time.

DAMMIT DAMMIT DAMMIT DAMMIT!!!

DB

Unfortunately accidents happen in all areas of life - people have died falling down stairs, off skateboards, jogging, etc. And this young guy may have been totally blameless/acting in a dangerous manner/whatever so try not to let it put you off letting your son ride. He will hopefully have a long and enjoyable motorcycling life - especially if he has a good teacher and role model.

Very sad for one so young to die though, no matter what the circumstances.

Here's the latest update from the Manawatu Standard:

Motorcyclist dies after collision at city intersection
By JODY O'CALLAGHAN - Manawatu Standard | Saturday, 12 April 2008

A Dannevirke motorcyclist is dead after a car and motorcycle collided on the Taonui and Walding Street intersection yesterday afternoon.

The 15-year-old male rider of the motorcycle died in an ambulance on the way to Palmerston North Hospital.

His immediate family have been notified, but police were giving them time to notify extended family before releasing his name. The occupant of the car was not hurt, but was being treated for shock last night.

Sergeant Phil Ward said the serious crash unit was now investigating the cause of the accident, that occurred at 3.37pm. Police were calling for witnesses to help in the investigation, he said.

"There would have been heavy traffic at the time and a number of other motorists may not have stopped."

Emergency services worked to clear the scene in time for peak traffic - the crumpled motorcycle and relatively intact car were removed after the serious crash unit marked the scene.

All lanes were reopened by 5pm.

[Number One]

RIP young fella. Condolences to his family and friends and also the occupants of the car. Terrible situation and outcome.

Take care out there everyone.

[1200custom]

The accident happened at a very dangerous intersection. Their are no traffic lights and you have to get passed 4 lanes of traffic and at peek hour traffic when schools just finished its a very busy area. Their have been so many accidents there but it has finally claimed a life. Why does their have to be a serious accident for them to think about changing the roads. RIP YOUNG FELLA

[Marknz]

RIP young fella

[Sparrowhawk]

"There would have been heavy traffic at the time and a number of other motorists may not have stopped."



Doesn't it suck that cage drivers will just keep on driving.

Bastards.

Someone stopping can make all the difference.

[jagman]

my brothers been in hamilton hospital for near amth now afterbike crash,hes gonna make it looked bad for a bit,but im sure it wont stop him or me riding,its in ya blood and ya just dont no when its your turn ,just becareful out there .

[1200custom]

I know some police officers here in palmy and have just found out that the car the teen hit actually drove out in front of him and was at no fault of the teen rider and its is not a definite report yet but the person driving the car was a unlicenced teenager.

[alimack]

I drove past the accident about 30 seconds after it had happened. I didn't see the accident but you could tell that the car had driven out in front of the bike and he didn't have time to react. I did not stop because there was a lot of people around helping and I didn't want to get in the way. When I saw the bike and the kid in his school uniform I felt really sick. With kids only just a bit younger myself I really feel for the family of the boy and my thoughts go out to them.

[1200custom]

very upsetting for the family, the teen went to st peters college and the person driving goes to boys high.......far too young to loose his life and the kid driving the car has something to think about for the rest of his life

[chanceyy]

Condolences to the family & friends .. really really sad ..

[skidMark]

I drove past the accident about 30 seconds after it had happened. I didn't see the accident but you could tell that the car had driven out in front of the bike and he didn't have time to react. I did not stop because there was a lot of people around helping and I didn't want to get in the way. When I saw the bike and the kid in his school uniform I felt really sick. With kids only just a bit younger myself I really feel for the family of the boy and my thoughts go out to them.


So just commuting back from school no gear, sigh if he had a jacket etc he probably would have survived.

Ahhh well too late now.

R.I.P dude, will pop a few tribute monos and stoppies when i'm mobile again for ya, , throw some knee down for ya too.

May heaven be an endless windy road. with an always full gas tank, and always the newest bike.

[Beemer]

I know some police officers here in palmy and have just found out that the car the teen hit actually drove out in front of him and was at no fault of the teen rider and its is not a definite report yet but the person driving the car was a unlicenced teenager.

I had wondered about who was at fault when I read that the car wasn't badly damaged but the bike was - when you consider it was at an intersection, it immediately made me think the bike was travelling along Walding Street and the car pulled out in front of him from Taonui Street. Sad no matter who was at fault though.

And gee, Mark, I am sure everyone will be delighted to hear you will pay 'tribute' to this poor young guy by popping a few monos and stoppies in his honour. As for what gear he was wearing, I doubt a jacket would have saved him in these circumstances.

[EJK]

So just commuting back from school no gear, sigh if he had a jacket etc he probably would have survived.

Ahhh well too late now.

R.I.P dude, will pop a few tribute monos and stoppies when i'm mobile again for ya, , throw some knee down for ya too.


You gotta be kidding right? Please tell me that you were just joking...

[alimack]

[QUOTE=skidMark;1517876]So just commuting back from school no gear, sigh if he had a jacket etc he probably would have survived.]

No, a jacket would not have saved him. He hit the windscreen and the pillar of the car. Perhaps in a less serious accident this gear would do the trick but not in this case. It was not just some nasty scrapes from the road.

[325rocket]

and the kid driving the car has something to think about for the rest of his life

yeah but will he / she??? these little fuckers dont seem to care.


So just commuting back from school no gear, sigh if he had a jacket etc he probably would have survived.

you must be kidding


R.I.P dude, will pop a few tribute monos and stoppies when i'm mobile again for ya, , throw some knee down for ya too.
.

hows that license going by the way?

[McJim]

And gee, Mark, I am sure everyone will be delighted to hear you will pay 'tribute' to this poor young guy by popping a few monos and stoppies in his honour. As for what gear he was wearing, I doubt a jacket would have saved him in these circumstances.


You gotta be kidding right? Please tell me that you were just joking...


No, a jacket would not have saved him. He hit the windscreen and the pillar of the car. Perhaps in a less serious accident this gear would do the trick but not in this case. It was not just some nasty scrapes from the road.

Please excuse SkidMark - he donated his brain to medical science some years ago and has been using a cabbage ever since. I'm sorry he chose to spout his particular brand of bull in this thread.

Condolences to the family.

[cowboyz]

please dont quote skidmark. He is a fucking moron who has no idea what appropriate means.

RIP. really sad situation.

[Beemer]

please dont quote skidmark. He is a fucking moron who has no idea what appropriate means.

RIP. really sad situation.

I even started thinking there was a god when he said he was fucking off for good, but no, like the proverbial bad penny, he keeps rolling up to dispense his particular brand of crap.

Sad, sad accident - well, crash really. If the car did fail to give way, that's not an accident, it's carelessness and it's tragic that it has resulted in the loss of a young life.

[EJK]

Yeah, a High school student.... Thats younger than me...

[ynot slow]

Seems to be two sets of anguished parents,rip to that family just farkin tragic.The car driver,if he was not licensed tough lesson to learn,but his family must be devistated.

My daughter is about to get her full license soon,as well as being at Massey Uni and city traffic for first time is scary for me,even when she went back to uni last week it was good to get her text to say I'm safely back.

Got to be parents worse nightmare,sad to read.

Good idea skidmark,another accident waiting to happen,do it in a closed carpark please not the open road.

[robertydog]

Condolences to the family & friends

[Duke girl]

Sad to hear about the loss of someone so young. My thoughts and condolences to his family and friends. May his soul live on forever. RIP.

[gijoe1313]

..........

[Sparky Bills]

Not nice to hear..

RIP

[86GSXR]

Awful tragedy. That intersection is evil. RIP.

[motorbyclist]

3
EDIT: I think the motorcycle license age needs raising to 18

why? it wasn't even the poor kid's fault! the rest of us seem to manage fine without losing our licences, why should a few bad eggs ruin it for everyone else?


So just commuting back from school no gear, sigh if he had a jacket etc he probably would have survived.

Ahhh well too late now.

R.I.P dude, will pop a few tribute monos and stoppies when i'm mobile again for ya, , throw some knee down for ya too.


right, so your jacket will protect you if you endo one of those stoppies, land on your head and smash the vertebrae in your neck killing you on the spot?

or lowside with your knee down and wrap yourself backwards around a roadside object?

without knowing the accident details we can't make any speculation, and there's some accidents where no amount of gear could save you.

i think the licence age is fine where it is considering kids can leave school at 16 and may need a bike/car to get to work by then... the methods of losing a licence also seem to be pretty well set up for certain idiots too



right, now i've made a mess of this thread, my condolences to the families involved, and RIP for the young man so needlessly lost to us.

[Bikernereid]

Sad to hear. Thoughts go to the family and all his friends.

[sunhuntin]

that intersection is horrid. if i recall, its got stop signs, not a giveway. even in quiet traffic, i have trouble getting across, and i always wait till theres nothing coming anywhere. poor bloody kid... very sobering riding the road where someones just died, and a reminder to take your time and have patience.

:bye:

[SDU]

Condolences to the family & his friends.

Tragic!



Has there been a name release yet?
Hoping it's not one of my Dannevirke cousins son, they have lost to many close family members already in the last few years.

[scumdog]

Seems to be two sets of anguished parents,rip to that family just farkin tragic.The car driver,if he was not licensed tough lesson to learn,but his family must be devistated.

Not wishing to hijack BUT: I wonder if/how long for the unlicenced drivers parents had been turning a blind eye??

Sad for all invlove but so preventable, makes me effinpissedoff.

[Ixion]

Does anyone feel that the standard of the licence test is such that possesion of a licence would give any assurance that the car driver's behaviour would have been any different ?

[skidMark]

Does anyone feel that the standard of the licence test is such that possesion of a licence would give any assurance that the car driver's behaviour would have been any different ?


Nope.

They did say no license as opposed to disqualified, so on assumption (we will have to wait for details)

But assuming he was around the same age and a school student driving without a license.

Why did the parents let him drive, parents do seem to step back alot these days ( i am talking about the car driver)

[scumdog]

Does anyone feel that the standard of the licence test is such that possesion of a licence would give any assurance that the car driver's behaviour would have been any different ?

Possibly

Possibly not.

But at least they would have had a few basic rules made known to them.

Not just knowing which end of the car the steering wheel was located and which pedal makes the car move.

[motorbyclist]

Not wishing to hijack BUT: I wonder if/how long for the unlicenced drivers parents had been turning a blind eye??

Sad for all invlove but so preventable, makes me effinpissedoff.

the father of the unlicenced and unsupervised girl that did a u turn infront of my brother right outside her own house, writing off my fxr in the process, told us to "f*** off" or he'd "bash" us. then the mother told the police officer that "oh no it's ok, my daughter is learning". they also gave the constable false details including phone number, despite the fact the cop was standing in their house talking to them!

girl got disqualified for sitting her licence for 6 months, which i doubt would have stopped her driving that dented (assumedly from similar incidents) 4wd of hers, a four figure fine which she gets to pay off $10 a week, and after 3 successful visits to small claims we get nothing for our bike which only had 3rd party on it. $3 grand gone, two years past and brother still has problems with his wrist


Does anyone feel that the standard of the licence test is such that possesion of a licence would give any assurance that the car driver's behaviour would have been any different ?

well if the young driver was actually following the rules, not only could he have known the road code (if he didn't already) but there would've been a fully licenced supervisor in the car to yell at him to stop when he moved forward.

[skidMark]

the father of the unlicenced and unsupervised girl that did a u turn infront of my brother right outside her own house, writing off my fxr in the process, told us to "f*** off" or he'd "bash" us. then the mother told the police officer that "oh no it's ok, my daughter is learning". they also gave the constable false details including phone number, despite the fact the cop was standing in their house talking to them!

girl got disqualified for sitting her licence for 6 months, which i doubt would have stopped her driving that dented (assumedly from similar incidents) 4wd of hers, a four figure fine which she gets to pay off $10 a week, and after 3 successful visits to small claims we get nothing for our bike which only had 3rd party on it. $3 grand gone, two years past and brother still has problems with his wrist



well if the young driver was actually following the rules, not only could he have known the road code (if he didn't already) but there would've been a fully licenced supervisor in the car to yell at him to stop when he moved forward.


You know where she lives you know what car she drives..

http://members.aol.com/BananasN/bpjpict3.gif

[Str8 Jacket]

Name is released. Here is the NZ Herald article:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10504036

[1200custom]

Condolences to the family & his friends.

Tragic!



Has there been a name release yet?
Hoping it's not one of my Dannevirke cousins son, they have lost to many close family members already in the last few years.

name has been released.....woops didnt see last post

[PrincessBandit]

Nope.



Why did the parents let him drive, parents do seem to step back alot these days

Parents have a particularly shitty job at times juggling the demands of their children, the restraints put on them by the law (wow, the smacking debacle just jumped into my mind then), do-gooders who jump on them at every turn. Isn't it enough to just about put you off having kids?
All power to parents who do their best, especially the ones who some how have to salvage hope and courage out of a tragedy such as this.

[Dodger]

EDIT: I think the motorcycle license age needs raising to 18

No, the Car license age needs to be raised.
I think this is done in a few places overseas (maybe South Africa) so what happens is people get their bike licenses first, learn to ride and become aware of the hazards around them.

Then after a few years they are able to get their car licenses and are much more aware of what's going on around them.

[motorbyclist]

+1

germany i hear has a similar system

but since when did the NZ government take successful policy from overseas? using all the banned/failed policy like cheesecutters is much more fun!

[Thumper]

No, the Car license age needs to be raised.
I think this is done in a few places overseas (maybe South Africa) so what happens is people get their bike licenses first, learn to ride and become aware of the hazards around them.

Then after a few years they are able to get their car licenses and are much more aware of what's going on around them.

Yip, in South Africa you could get your motorcycle learners when you turned 16 and you could not get your full until you were 18. There was no restricted level. During this period you could not carry a pillion, ride on a motorway or ride a bike with an engine size greater that 125cc (this was actually 50cc :scooter: when I did my learners way back when but was lifted to 125cc in the 90’s I think).

A learner car license was only available when you turned 17 with a full being available at 18 years of age.

A huge number of kids road motorcycles to school because we weren’t old enough to drive a car. This meant that by the time we got to drive cars our road skills and general perception of traffic was highly tuned.

The problem of boy racers did not exist at all.

No government would implement this sort of change in NZ as it would alienate them from the next generation of voters (just call me cynical).

[motorbyclist]

No government would implement this sort of change in NZ as it would alienate them from the next generation of voters (just call me cynical).

well there's talk of moving the licence age to 18 anyway, but of course even if that happened the bike age wouldn't stay low

[SDU]

name has been released.....woops didnt see last post

Thanks. He isn't related but I'mstill sad for his family & friends

[Boulder]

Yip, in South Africa you could get your motorcycle learners when you turned 16 and you could not get your full until you were 18. There was no restricted level. During this period you could not carry a pillion, ride on a motorway or ride a bike with an engine size greater that 125cc (this was actually 50cc :scooter: when I did my learners way back when but was lifted to 125cc in the 90’s I think).

A learner car license was only available when you turned 17 with a full being available at 18 years of age.


This makes a lot of sense to me. Raise the age to 18 for full license bike riders. From 16 to 18 limit bikers to 125cc. Then there is the problem of the born again riders who return to bikes after 10 20 or 30 years and I guess they should do a practical test again even if they had a full when younger. Yes it would be unpopular with voters, so it should be decided outside of party politics or somehow with an independent group.

[cowboyz]

or maybe incorperate a driving test in the renewal of licences. I just renewed mine for another 10 years. All I had to do was go read a few letters and pay them money. They have no idea if I can still drive or not but happierly handed me a new licence.

[adamh]

I got my car learners first but only to ride a 50cc scooter. But afew months later I was bored of the scooter so got my bike licence and so I learned full road safty on the 50cc scooter and a 150cc motorbike. I now have restricted car and am gonna get my restricted bike licence when I get a new bike...
But for now I drive a ute and know safety in heavy traffic conditions and I always make sure no bikes are coming at intersections.

[Livvy]

Poor guy. Feel sorry for all involved.

As for raising car/biker licence I'm fully agreed, despite how young I myself am. Having lost one of my best friends, Katrina, in a car accident in April, I realise the driving age is way too young. I won't even go get my licence because I don't know if I can trust myself in charge of a car yet. Bike, perhaps, car... less so.

[motorbyclist]

or maybe incorperate a driving test in the renewal of licences. I just renewed mine for another 10 years. All I had to do was go read a few letters and pay them money. They have no idea if I can still drive or not but happierly handed me a new licence.

i'm pretty confident that if drivers had to re-sit the full licence test every 5 years there'd be a lot less accidents and alot less conjestion.... not least because there wouldn't be anyone left on the roads:laugh:

[Squiggles]

or maybe incorperate a driving test in the renewal of licences. I just renewed mine for another 10 years. All I had to do was go read a few letters and pay them money. They have no idea if I can still drive or not but happierly handed me a new licence.

Only takes a glance at the section in the herald where people query roadworks/planning/road rules to see why it so needs to be done, i mean the other day it was someone asking if they were allowed to use the median strip to pass on

its sad to see young people pass away, wasnt long ago i was riding to and from school