Teen cyclist killed on West Coast

A roadblock was set up at Three Mile, about 1km from the crash scene at Kaihinu, in the...
A roadblock was set up at Three Mile, about 1km from the crash scene at Kaihinu, in the background. State highway traffic was detoured through Blue Spur. Photo: Hokitika Guardian

The cyclist killed in a collision with a light truck just north of Hokitika this morning was a local teenager.

He has been named as River Caldwell, a student living in Hokitika.

Police and emergency services were called to the crash scene at Kaihinu, about 5km north of Hokitika, about 6.50am. The Hokitika Volunteer Fire Brigade helped secure the scene until roadblocks were installed and a detour was put in place for State highway 6 traffic.

West Coast traffic Senior Sergeant Dave Cross confirmed the cyclist died at the scene.

The crash between the cyclist and a northbound 4x4 Izusu light truck happened about 500m south of the intersection of One Mile Road and the highway.

The crash happened when it was still dark, and police serious crash investigators were early this afternoon completing a survey of the crash scene to get a picture of how the tragedy had unfolded.

Traffic was detoured through the Arahura Valley and Blue Spur, but both lanes of State Highway 6 are now open.

Contrary to other media reports that the vehicle involved belonging to a trucking company, the light truck was a private vehicle, Mr Cross said.

A national police media centre spokeswoman advised that the crash investigation was partly reliant on Tasman police district serious crash investigation staff arriving from either Nelson or Blenheim.

"The road is definitely still closed and will be for the next few hours," she said.

- by Brendon McMahon of the Hokitika Guardian