Motorcyclist badly injured in crash

Otago Regional Rescue Helicopter staff transfer a motorcyclist seriously injured in a crash at Maheno on State Highway 1 on Saturday before flying him to Dunedin Hospital. Photo by David Bruce.
Otago Regional Rescue Helicopter staff transfer a motorcyclist seriously injured in a crash at Maheno on State Highway 1 on Saturday before flying him to Dunedin Hospital. Photo by David Bruce.
A 38-year-old Timaru motorcyclist is in a serious but stable condition in Dunedin Hospital after his motorcycle crashed at Maheno about 9.40am on Saturday.

The crash affected traffic on State Highway 1 just south of the Kakanui River bridge for more than an hour and at one stage, the highway was closed to allow the Otago Regional Rescue Helicopter to land on the road.

The motorcyclist, riding his 2002 Harley-Davidson Softail, was heading south through Maheno when he clipped the right rear of a Nissan car which was slowing to turn right into Crooks St.

The motorcycle and its rider slid across the northbound lane, the injured rider ending up on the road while his bike went over a bank.

Senior Sergeant Peter Muldrew said the motorcyclist suffered two major compound fractures to his lower body and suspected pelvic injuries.

The 67-year-old driver of the car, from Maheno, was not injured.

Initially, the highway was reduced to a single lane while ambulance staff treated the injured man.

For about 20 minutes, light traffic was diverted through Maheno while the helicopter waited for the man to be transferred.