A family in North Otago is devastated after their eldest child and only son was killed in a motorcycle accident yesterday on their Georgetown dairy farm.
Matthew James Richardson (10), described by a neighbour as "keen on motorcycles", was riding his 80cc machine on an internal road on the farm about 12.50pm when he was in a collision with a four-wheel-drive vehicle being driven by a farm worker, who had recently started work on the property.
The family shifted to the property about the middle of this year and Andrew had attended Papakaio School for about a term.
He had recently been given a new child's motorcycle, but it was not known if he was riding that at the time.
Matthew was the eldest child of Andrew and Barbara Richardson, who own the farm about 30km northwest of Oamaru.
Matthew was riding the two-wheel motorbike uphill on the gravel road while the farm worker was coming up the other side in the four-wheel-drive vehicle.
The motorcycle came over the brow of the hill and, despite both vehicles braking, a low-speed collision occurred.
The boy's father heard the impact, which was near the farmhouse, and went to the scene, carrying out CPR on his son until an ambulance arrived.
Sergeant Wayne Brew, of Oamaru, said late yesterday police, on behalf of the coroner, and the Department of Labour's Occupational Safety and Health were investigating the accident.
"The family are very devastated, as you would expect, losing an eldest son, particularly of that age," Sgt Brew said.
Oamaru Victim Support was attending the family.
Papakaio School principal Gary Shirley was meeting his board of trustees last night and was unavailable to comment.
