Riders down - RIP: South Island, 2 December 07

[Twosup]

This just rips your heart, four lost souls when enjoying a Toy run rally the things we sometimes all take part in for Humanity. Be very afraid of those tin tops.
My condolences to family and friends.

[ajturbo]

2 weeks ago BuellBabe, Rashika and I were on that road... a few days later we were on that road the cop pulled out infront of the other 2....

makes ya think eh?

RIP

[WelshWizard]

Rest in peace.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/...ectid=10479758
a real taint to a charity run
Our thoughts and prayers are with the families

[dogsnbikes]

Always up setting when riders fall,and now have just heard that a child pillion has past away also thoughts go out too all friends and families of all

RIP guys

you may have been taken but may you never be forgotton

[kevie]

Condolences to all those affected

Was listening to fire/ambo/police channel Wanganui and Manawatu on the weekend and there was a lot of motorcyclists went down in our region.... not good

Our toyrun is on the 15th (Manawatu) so guessing it will be a bit somber.


Webby ... any plans for a funding appeal for the families of the victims in this crash ???

[BarBender]

What does one say....

RIP

[MyGSXF:Me]

My heart breaks for these families.. tis so incredibly sad..

god, I was out with my 11 year old on the back, at our local toy run on Saturday.. & then out riding together for the afternoon...

[Daffyd]

The driver of the campervan, an Austrian Tourist has been charged with, 'Careless use of a motor vehicle causing death'.

[Monkeyboy]

I heard on the wireless that in Canterbury in the last 5 years motorcycle crashes have risen 60 % and 40 % nationally, it's starting to look like the eighties all over again! I can tell you for sure that those stats are wrong in that I reckon most motorcycle crashes are unreported. On the Akaroa highway bikes are going down left right and centre and I have no doubt that a crackdown is coming, we're screwed!!!!

[Ixion]

Dunno about Canterbury. The national increase is about right. BUT, per 10000 motorcycles registered, the increase in crashes is tiny (about 2%) and the fatalities per 10000 regos is down slightly (5.2 to 5.1). So, yes, more crashes , but it's entirely explainable by more bikes on the road. The crash RATE is unchanged. More bikes, more crashes, sorta logical.

[cruza]

An Austrian tourist whose careless driving killed four people in a head-on smash near Fairlie on Sunday pleaded guilty to six charges in the Christchurch District Court today - four of causing death and two of causing injury by careless driving.


Heike Schellnegger, a 30-year-old architect, entered the pleas at her appearance before Judge Colin Doherty, only a day after her first appearance in the Timaru District Court.

Her passport has already been surrendered to the police, and she was remanded on bail for sentencing on December 19.

Judge Doherty called for pre-sentence and victim impact reports, and a reparation report. He said the reparation report would look at possible payment of emotional harm reparation to the families.

Motorcyclist Gavin MacDonald of Timaru died at the scene of the crash about midday on Sunday on Highway 79. His 11-year-old daughter Olivia died the following day at Christchurch Hospital.

The other two people killed were a British man and woman who had been living at Pleasant Point near Timaru for the past six months.

[gijoe1313]

............

[RantyDave]

An Austrian tourist whose careless driving killed four people in a head-on smash near Fairlie on Sunday pleaded guilty

I'm practically applauding over here. Nice to see a cager admitting fault for a change and kinda a shame it's an Austrian rather than A Kiwi. It remains to be seen whether or not officer "But you were speeding" fucknuckle of Blenheim will admit to the charge of "driving with head up arse".

Respect inducing honesty from the police? Yeah, right.

Dave

[Mikkel]

This is indeed a tragedy for everyone involved. Including the tourists!

[fireliv]

Just remember people, there was no "intent" here, she made a stupid mistake that anyonce could have made, and the result was horrific. No matter what sentence she gets, she has to live with the fact that she killed 4 people, that she robbed a family of a father and daughter. I wouldnt wish that upon anyone