18 Jul 2013

Family may pursue cyclist's death after police reject charges

7:02 pm on 18 July 2013

The family of a woman cyclist killed by a truck near Taupo in March is considering seeking legal advice, after the police decided not to lay charges.

Jane Farrelly, who was 50, was riding in a group of cyclists on Poihipi Road, north-west of the town, in March when she was struck by a passing truck.

Police say that after a thorough investigation they have decided there is not sufficient evidence to lay charges over the crash.

Her sister Tina McCullough says she does not understand the decision, which has left her stunned and disappointed. She says the family now wonders whether the investigation was conducted with an open mind.

"There were seven cyclists in the bunch," she says. "All of them gave very clear statements as to what they saw and it appears, because we don't have any other information, that those statements have been completely disregarded and the driver's statement and a witness statement seems to have been taken as the absolute truth, and we just are in quite disbelief."

Bay of Plenty road policing manager Kevin Taylor says police go to great lengths to analyse all the information available with any fatal and serious motor vehicle crash.

He says that includes statements, an analysis of the vehicles involved and an investigation of the scene itself.

Inspector Taylor says the wider issue of cyclist safety is a separate matter that may well come up with the coroner.