Police investigating the hit-and-run death of a Helensville doctor are appealing for the person who killed Dr Graham Robinson, or anyone else who has information on the case to come forward.
Monday the 14th of October marks four years to the day that 62 year-old Dr Robinson, a keen cyclist, was killed.
At 8.50am on Wednesday 14 October 2009 Dr Robinson and his friend Dr Peter Kalinowski were biking south along Peak Road in Helensville. The weather on that day was fine and sunny and the pair were out enjoying a recreational ride.
Dr Robinson was cycling in front of his friend, Dr Kalinowski. As they biked along, Dr Kalinowski heard a car approaching from behind, and as many cyclists do, he called out to his friend to warn him that a car was coming. Dr Robinson moved further left towards the side of the road.
The car passed Dr Kalinowski, using the right hand side of the road to overtake, and then sharply veered its way back into the left lane. As it passed Dr Robinson it either clipped the front wheel of his bike or came so close that the wind disturbance caused Dr Robinson to take evasive action and he was propelled over the handlebars and onto the road.
Although Dr Robinson was wearing a helmet, he suffered a severe head injury and died the following day at North Shore Hospital.
The driver of the vehicle did not stop, and is yet to be identified.
The car was described as an older model white ute, with an off-white canopy. It had the word "TOYOTA" written in large, bold black writing across the back, under the canopy.
Over the years a number of people have approached Police with information, however none of the leads have resulted in the driver being located. Checks of around 500 similar vehicles that were identified as being in the Rodney area at the time also failed to provide any further clues.
"It's been four years and it's very frustrating that our enquiries haven't revealed the person responsible. We would love to be able to provide Dr Robinson's family with some answers and bring whoever did this to justice. The person who was driving on that day will know that they hit someone and I would appeal to their conscience- it must be very difficult to live with yourself knowing you were responsible for something like this. Perhaps the passage of time has tweaked their conscience, or they have told someone what happened. This was a family man, a good friend, and a respected member of the community who was killed and we'd really appeal to anyone who has any information to do the decent thing and give this man's friends and family the answers they deserve".
Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Senior Sergeant Brett Batty on 09 426 4555 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
ENDS
Issued by Beth Bates/Waitemata Police
0274 752 518
