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Police are urging drivers to take extra care after eight serious motorcycle crashes in Waikato over the past month left two people dead and six others with critical or life-changing injuries.
The crashes include an incident on September 30, which closed State Highway 1 in Meremere just after 7.40pm. A motorcyclist was critically injured and transported to Middlemore Hospital in a critical condition.
Waikato Road Policing Senior Sergeant John McCarthy said the toll was devastating for families across the region.
“Two people have died, three people remain in a critical condition, and three others received life-altering injuries,” he said.
“We acknowledge this is a difficult time for all those involved, and our sympathies and thoughts are with them.”
Police say investigations into the circumstances are ongoing, but they are appealing to all motorists to drive to the conditions and look out for each other.
The series of crashes began on 2 September, when two people suffered life-changing injuries in a crash on Ohaupo Road, Te Awamutu. On 11 September, a motorcyclist died following a crash on Mangateparu Loop Road, while on 16 September another rider was critically injured in Raglan on Park Drive. A further fatality occurred on McDonald Mine Road on 21 September.
On 26 September, a motorcyclist received serious injuries after a crash on the Waikato Expressway near Huntly. That same day, another rider was left in a critical condition after a crash on Karl Michael Crescent, Flagstaff.
The eighth and most recent crash was on River Road, on 1 October, when one rider was left in a critical condition.
McCarthy said while all the crashes involved motorcycles, the safety message applied to everyone.
“We are doing our best to ensure everyone travelling on our roads are safe, however everyone, no matter what mode of transport, is responsible for the safety of all road users,” he said.
“While all eight crashes involved motorcycles, we want to share this message to all motorists to ensure everyone arrives at their destination safely.”
