(File photo of a ute and motorcycle crash)
A female rider in her late 30s has died in a collision with a ute in Bathurst, NSW, this morning (29 April 2020).
NSW Police say emergency services were called to the crash scene on Ophir Road about 9.30am.
Officers from Chifley Police District were told the rider was travelling west when she collided with a ute.
Tragically, she died at the scene.
Our sincere condolences to her family and friends.
The driver of the ute, a man believed to be aged in his 50s, was uninjured. He was taken to Bathurst Hospital for mandatory testing.
Inquiries continue and a report will be prepared for the Coroner.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.
Indeed, slow down and back offUte crashes
Without suggesting any blame for this incident, it seems that a lot of motorcycle crashes involve a ute.
Just do a search for “ute crash” on this page and you will see.
We suggest riders exercise extra caution when riding near utilities and trucks.
Ute drivers often use them as their work vehicle and may be distracted by calls involving their work.
They can also be loaded up with equipment and tools that could illegally disrupt a clear view of a small motorcycle in traffic.
You should also be aware that in some states, such as Victoria, there is no legal requirement for these drivers to cover their load.
So watch out for hazardous objects that could fall out of them.