Lynley MacDonald
Lynley MacDonald
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Age: 34
Location:
Pipiwai Road near Kokopu Road
Whangarei , NTL
New Zealand
From the Northern Advocate:
Friends and family are grieving the death of yet another cyclist killed on Northland's unforgiving roads.
Lynley MacDonald, 34, was knocked off her bike by a stock truck as she rode with her father, Ross MacDonald, along a rural road on Tuesday.
The Whangarei travel agent is the second cyclist to die after being hit by a vehicle in just over a month. Road safety campaigner Fred Ogle died on August 16 when he was struck by a hit-and-run driver as he cycled up Maungatapere hill south of Whangarei.
The latest tragedy happened on Pipiwai Rd, about 250m from the intersection with Kokopu Rd, about 6pm.
Miss MacDonald was riding about 10m behind her father as they headed west in an area popular with cyclists.
Serious crash investigator Senior Constable Jim Hawthorn said the front left-hand side of a stock truck travelling in the same direction clipped Miss MacDonald's bike and knocked her into a roadside drain.
The truck driver stopped and was later interviewed by police.
St John advanced paramedics resuscitated Miss MacDonald at the scene and continued while in the ambulance on the way to Whangarei Hospital. She died late on Tuesday night.
The truck has been seized and was due to be forensically examined. Police planned to return to the scene of the accident around 6pm yesterday to consider sun-strike as a possible cause.
Miss MacDonald's parents, Ross and Cheryl MacDonald, were surrounded by friends yesterday, while older brothers Geordie and Aaron were on their way to the family home in Kamo.
Mrs MacDonald described her daughter as "very bubbly and very strong willed".
She had been out training with her father as they were to compete in the Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge at the end of November.
Miss MacDonald had aspirations of becoming a police officer after finishing at Kamo High School but was encouraged to get some life experience first. She had travelled overseas and returned home where she had a number of jobs before entering the travel industry.
Workmates at House of Travel in Whangarei were reeling after learning about her death.
Owner Steven Gillingham said Miss MacDonald had joined the team six months ago and was one of the "most positive people you could ever hope to work with".
"She had a real zest for life and crammed a lot in," Mr Gillingham said.
"She was talking about her training ride with her dad before she left work and was really looking forward to it."
She was in charge of leading a supporters trip to watch the world's most famous cycling race, the Tour de France, next year. Miss MacDonald was also aiming to run the New York marathon in 2009.
Mario Di Leva, of Toll United, the company which owns the stock truck, described Miss MacDonald's death as "extremely tragic". The company had launched its own internal investigation and the experienced driver involved in the accident had been offered counselling and support.
Mr Di Leva expressed his sympathy for the MacDonald family.
From a later article:
A second "ghost" bike has appeared as an eerie reminder of the dangers of cycling on Northland roads.
Lynley MacDonald, 34, and her father were riding their bikes along Pipiwai Rd, northwest of Whangarei, on September 23 when she was hit by a stock truck. She died that evening in hospital.
Now a bicycle painted white has been chained to a road sign near the accident. The white bikes are designed to be both a memorial and a reminder of the importance of watching out for cyclists.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Age: 34
Location:
Pipiwai Road near Kokopu Road
Whangarei , NTL
New Zealand
From the Northern Advocate:
Friends and family are grieving the death of yet another cyclist killed on Northland's unforgiving roads.
Lynley MacDonald, 34, was knocked off her bike by a stock truck as she rode with her father, Ross MacDonald, along a rural road on Tuesday.
The Whangarei travel agent is the second cyclist to die after being hit by a vehicle in just over a month. Road safety campaigner Fred Ogle died on August 16 when he was struck by a hit-and-run driver as he cycled up Maungatapere hill south of Whangarei.
The latest tragedy happened on Pipiwai Rd, about 250m from the intersection with Kokopu Rd, about 6pm.
Miss MacDonald was riding about 10m behind her father as they headed west in an area popular with cyclists.
Serious crash investigator Senior Constable Jim Hawthorn said the front left-hand side of a stock truck travelling in the same direction clipped Miss MacDonald's bike and knocked her into a roadside drain.
The truck driver stopped and was later interviewed by police.
St John advanced paramedics resuscitated Miss MacDonald at the scene and continued while in the ambulance on the way to Whangarei Hospital. She died late on Tuesday night.
The truck has been seized and was due to be forensically examined. Police planned to return to the scene of the accident around 6pm yesterday to consider sun-strike as a possible cause.
Miss MacDonald's parents, Ross and Cheryl MacDonald, were surrounded by friends yesterday, while older brothers Geordie and Aaron were on their way to the family home in Kamo.
Mrs MacDonald described her daughter as "very bubbly and very strong willed".
She had been out training with her father as they were to compete in the Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge at the end of November.
Miss MacDonald had aspirations of becoming a police officer after finishing at Kamo High School but was encouraged to get some life experience first. She had travelled overseas and returned home where she had a number of jobs before entering the travel industry.
Workmates at House of Travel in Whangarei were reeling after learning about her death.
Owner Steven Gillingham said Miss MacDonald had joined the team six months ago and was one of the "most positive people you could ever hope to work with".
"She had a real zest for life and crammed a lot in," Mr Gillingham said.
"She was talking about her training ride with her dad before she left work and was really looking forward to it."
She was in charge of leading a supporters trip to watch the world's most famous cycling race, the Tour de France, next year. Miss MacDonald was also aiming to run the New York marathon in 2009.
Mario Di Leva, of Toll United, the company which owns the stock truck, described Miss MacDonald's death as "extremely tragic". The company had launched its own internal investigation and the experienced driver involved in the accident had been offered counselling and support.
Mr Di Leva expressed his sympathy for the MacDonald family.
From a later article:
A second "ghost" bike has appeared as an eerie reminder of the dangers of cycling on Northland roads.
Lynley MacDonald, 34, and her father were riding their bikes along Pipiwai Rd, northwest of Whangarei, on September 23 when she was hit by a stock truck. She died that evening in hospital.
Now a bicycle painted white has been chained to a road sign near the accident. The white bikes are designed to be both a memorial and a reminder of the importance of watching out for cyclists.