The car driver being transported to hospital after the
double-fatality crash in the Lindis Pass. Photo by Lynda
van Kempen.
A 20-year-old Chinese woman was granted bail when she
appeared in the Alexandra District Court yesterday on two
counts of careless driving causing death, following a double
fatality in the Lindis Pass on Monday.
The woman had been receiving medical treatment following the
crash but was discharged from hospital before her court
appearance. She appeared before the court registrar, was
granted interim name suppression and remanded to reappear in
court next month.
The names of the two motorcyclists killed in the crash were
released by police yesterday.
They were Grant John Roberts (43), of Timaru, and Dennis
Michael Pederson (54), of Tauranga.
Timaru police confirmed both men were involved in motorcycle
gangs. Mr Roberts was a member of the Road Knights and Mr
Pederson was affiliated to the Filthy Few.
A 26-year-old Timaru woman, who was a pillion passenger,
remained in intensive care in Dunedin Hospital last night in
a serious condition. She was airlifted to Dunedin with
serious injuries following the crash. Her name has not been
released by police.
Central Otago police sub-area commander Senior Sergeant Ian
Kerrisk said police had a "clear picture of what occurred".
Alcohol was not believed to be a factor.
He declined to give any further details as the matter was now
before the court.
Police were asking the public for information about the
movements of a dark-coloured Nissan Pulsar with a single
female occupant, travelling south from Omarama towards
Cromwell between noon and 2.15pm on Monday.
"We believe that this vehicle was following a white station
wagon a short time before the crash happened. We would like
the driver of that white station wagon to contact police,"
Snr Sgt Kerrisk said.
Any witnesses who saw a group of eight to 10 motorcyclists on
Harley-Davidson motorcycles travelling from Cromwell towards
Omarama about the same time on Monday, were also asked to
contact police.
A Cromwell police spokesman said they had received a "steady
stream" of calls from members of the public yesterday about
the incident.
The crash happened about 19km north of Tarras on State
Highway 8, near Goodger Rd.
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