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Police Seek Information from Truckies

Friday 21 May 2010, 1:15PM

By New Zealand Police

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OAMARU

Oamaru Police are interested in hearing from truck drivers or drivers of other vehicles who may have spent the night at a stopping point at Richmond, north of Oamaru, known locally as Scott Base, on the night 12/13 May.

"We're asking that any truck drivers who stayed or slept in their vehicles at this location but may not have registered at the accommodation there to get in touch with us," said Detective Senior Sergeant Colin Blackie who leads Operation Rich, the inquiry into the death of 18-year-old Tom Fry in a motorcycle crash early on Thursday morning.

"This area is just north of where the crash occurred and it's possible that someone has stayed at this location overnight and left in the early hours of the morning about the time the crash occurred," said Detective Senior Sergeant Blackie.

Yesterday from 1-5am, police conducted roadside stops of vehicles on SH1 where the crash occurred and at the intersection of Horse Gully Road and SH83, where the burnt out vehicle connected with the crash scene was located.

In total, 78 vehicles were stopped on SH1 and 32 on Horse Gully Road, with 20 positive lines of inquiry resulting. Police are following up on these today and over the next couple of days, Detective Senior Sergeant Blackie said.

An ESR forensic team and serious crash experts are continuing to examine Mr Fry's motorbike for clues of how the crash occurred.

"The investigation focus at the moment is to establish why and how Mr Fry fell from his motorbike," said Detective Senior Sergeant Blackie.

The information flow to police about the crash had been excellent, and police were particularly grateful to the transport industry for the information truck drivers and other heavy traffic vehicle drivers have provided.

Truck drivers and members of the public with information about the crash could still, however, contact Oamaru Police on (03) 433 1400 or provide information anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.