Cyclist seriously hurt after high speed crash
Two off-duty doctors helped give first aid to a seriously injured cyclist after a horrific crash at Paengaroa.
The doctors were among the first on the scene after the collision between a 49-year-old Maketu male cyclist and a car travelling 100km/h in the same direction on State Highway 2 yesterday.
The collision occurred at 5.25pm about 250m south of the SH2 intersection with Maketu Rd - a notorious black spot.
The cyclist was taken to Tauranga Hospital in a serious condition with injuries to his face, head and limbs.
Police confirmed the cyclist was wearing a helmet. A chunk of the helmet was wedged into the broken glass of the car's windscreen.
"When we arrived the cyclist was approximately 7m away from the car on the side of the road," Maketu volunteer fire chief Shane Beech said.
"Three or four people were looking after the cyclist, one identified himself as a doctor which was good because he was basically giving the guy medical assistance until the ambulance arrived."
The doctors put the man into a neck brace and attempted to stop bleeding.
Mr Beech said the man's injuries appeared "severe".
The road was restricted to one lane as emergency services worked to clear the scene. Diversions were in place along Maketu Rd.
Mr Beech said he spoke with the driver involved who was not injured but "concerned with the patient's welfare and assisted with medical attention".
The driver had been travelling in a work vehicle.
Mr Beech said the intersection was one the brigade identified as a "horrific place for motor vehicle accidents".
Mount Maunganui St John ambulance team manager Gary Bishell said the man suffered serious head and facial injuries plus injuries to both arms and legs.
"I spoke to the driver. He was visibly upset but did not have any obvious injuries."
Tauranga police Acting Sergeant Cam Anderson said the cause of the crash was still unknown last night and would continue to be investigated today.
The cyclist was struck and fell on to the car's bonnet and through the windscreen before being thrown off, Mr Anderson said.
