Police shocked by speeding motorcyclist

Police are shocked that a motorcyclist sped through a stretch of road that only hours before had claimed the life of a man in a truck crash.

Central District Police say officers were still on No 1 Line outside Palmerston North yesterday dealing with the aftermath of a road accident, in which an elderly man died in a collision with a truck, when a motorbike was clocked doing 132kmh.

Police said the rider was pulled over and breath-tested.

The officer discovered the motorcyclist had excess breath alcohol.

The motorcyclist was issued with a speeding ticket and was due to appear in court on a charge of driving with excess breath alcohol.

Police urged drivers to think about their actions and possible consequences of poor decisions.

"We want all people to get to their destinations safely; all too often we bring news to families that tears them apart," read the post.

"Road safety was everyone's responsibility and excessive speed, drink-driving and failing to drive to the conditions all contributed to fatal crashes."