Motorcycle passenger Jayne Jamieson, 52, killed in Pike River memorial ride

Monday, 19 November 2018

A 52-year-old woman was killed in a motorcycle accident during the Pike River memorial run on Saturday. 

She was bike passenger Jayne Jamieson, from Inangahua.

The crash occurred on State Highway 6, about 1km toward Reefton from Berlins Café and Bar, about 3.55pm. 

Jamieson died at the scene. No other vehicles were involved. 

Police said, in a statement, they would like to speak to anyone who was at or outside Berlins between 3.30pm and 4pm Saturday, as well as the occupants of a vehicle that narrowly avoided a collision with a motorcycle leaving the venue about the same time. 

Jamieson died while paying tribute to the men who died in the Pike River explosion in the Tribute 29 Pike River Memorial Run.

Pike River father Rowdy Durbridge was riding in the event and said he and the Pike River families were gutted by the tragedy. 

Jamieson was part of a big West Coast family from Runanga and Dunollie.

She, along with her partner, had been one of the last to leave the start of the run. Her partner was a very experienced rider, Durbridge said.

The accident happened after the group stopped at Berlin's Cafe. 

She was one of four motorcyclists to die on Kiwi roads on Saturday.

Emergency services attended the scene of the crash involving the Pike tribute rider on the West Coast's Lower Buller Gorge Rd shortly after 4pm Saturday. 

Tribute 29 was an annual ride in the South Island to commemorate the 29 men who died in the Pike River Mine explosion on November 19, 2010.  

Anyone who passed the scene prior to emergency services arriving is also urged to get in touch with police. 

Information can be provided to Greymouth Police on (03) 768 1600, or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. 

Sonya Rockhouse had two sons working in the mine on the fateful day - Ben - who died, and Daniel, one of the two survivors.

'I feel sick, it's absolutely terrible,' Rockhouse said on Saturday night.

Organisers of the run declined to comment on Monday morning. 

Pike River families will commemorate the eight anniversary of the disaster on Monday with a service at the Pike River memorial on Atarau Rd and in Blackball. Minister Responsible for Pike River Re-entry Andrew Little will attend.