An investigation is under way after an off-duty police officer was involved in a fatal traffic crash that claimed a cyclist’s life in east Auckland last weekend.
Emergency services were called to the crash in Stancombe Road, Flat Bush, just before 8.15am on Saturday.
Police said the crash involved a cyclist, a moving vehicle, and multiple parked vehicles.
Initial indications were one person was seriously injured, but on Saturday afternoon police confirmed the cyclist had died at the scene.
“An off-duty police officer who was involved in the incident will be stood down from duty while an investigation is conducted,” a police spokesperson said.
“The incident will be referred to the Independent Police Conduct Authority.
“Police are unable to comment further while investigations are occurring, including an investigation on behalf of the coroner.”
Cordons were erected near the crash site, opposite Barry Curtis Park, shortly after the incident happened.
Motorists were advised to avoid the area and use alternative routes.
The cordons were still in place when the Times visited the scene just after midday.
A blue police tent had been erected in the road and several vehicles, including a Toyota Hilux ute and a Nissan Leaf, which were both damaged, were parked in front of the tent.
The Toyota ute had sustained damage to its side and front and its bumper was partially hanging off while the rear and side of the Nissan Leaf were damaged.
A black Nissan Navara ute which was also damaged was removed on a tow truck.
A member of the public at the scene told the Times Stancombe Road has become much busier with vehicle traffic in recent years due to an increase in the number of houses in the immediate area and increasing intensification.
He also pointed out the crash on Saturday was not the only serious or fatal traffic incident to have happened on the road in the past few years.
Police were previously called to a two-vehicle crash on Stancombe Road just before 3pm on February 19 last year.
One person was in a critical condition while a second person sustained moderate injuries.
The road was also the site of a fatal crash that happened just after 10.30pm on February 17 last year.
Police received reports a vehicle had collided with a truck carrying a house.
The vehicle’s sole occupant died at the scene.
Another previous fatal crash happened on Stancombe Road at about 2pm on November 10, 2019, when a vehicle crashed into a parked truck.
When emergency services arrived they found one person in a critical condition, but the person died at the scene.
And a 27-year-old who lived in Flat Bush died when he fell from his late-model Yamaha motorbike on Stancombe Road shortly before 6am on October 18, 2017.
Police said following his death that their thoughts were with the man’s family and friends.
