Waikato Police are urging motorists to consider their decision making following the death of a man three weeks after he crashed his motorbike during Labour Weekend.
At the time District Road Policing Manager, Inspector Leo Tooman, congratulated drivers for contributing to a fatal free holiday weekend but warned of the potential for this to change.
"On Thursday 56-year-old Ngaruawahia man, Geoffrey William DRUCE, died in Waikato Hospital as a result of serious head injuries suffered in a motorcycle crash on 24 October.
"Mr Druce was riding his Ducati motorcycle east on Oparure Rd near Te Kuiti when he failed to negotiate a moderate right hand bend about 11.30am. He and his bike travelled along the gravel and grass verge for about 25-30m prior to striking a wooden strainer post
Taken to Waikato Hospital by ambulance, Mr Druce was suffering from serious head injuries.
"While the crash is still under investigation it appears speed was a factor and Mr Druce's death came on the same day, Thursday, as an appeal for witnesses to another potential tragedy when a car passing vehicles with oncoming traffic clipped a truck on Piako Rd near Morrinsville.
"Then last night there was a crash on SH25A, the Kopu-Hikuai Rd, near the intersection with SH26 where the driver of a westbound car failed to negotiate a bend and lost control with his vehicle impacting sideways into an oncoming car carrying two people about 6pm."
The 27-year-old man driving the out of control car was airlifted to Auckland Hospital suffering from critical injuries while the two occupants of the other vehicle suffered moderate to serious injuries.
"In each of these incidents the basics of road safety appeared to have been ignored. People may say they've have heard it all before, about booze, belts and speed, but we're still not getting it right.
"The most tragic thing about each incident is that the situations were avoidable and we ask people thinking of making a 50-50 decision to think again because the odds are too high."
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