Updated: 6:36am – An eight-year-old cyclist killed in an accident involving a feed grain truck in Inglewood this afternoon was riding home from school, police say.
Sergeant Allan Trow of the Taranaki Highway Patrol said it appeared the truck had been turning out of Miro Street onto Rata Street – Inglewood’s main road – about 3.30pm yesterday.
“We had a motor vehicle incident involving a truck and a young girl on a bicycle travelling home from school. As a result of that vehicle collusion, the girl died at the scene.”
Sergeant Trow said it was too early to say what caused the crash and the Serious Crash Unit is investigating.
State Highway 3 was closed for several hours while police carried out their initial investigations and the girl’s body was removed from the scene at about 5pm.
The road was reopened shortly before 8pm.
Sergeant Trow said police are providing support for the young girl’s family.
-RNZ
