A leading police officer who helped reduce the road toll has been killed in a cycling accident.
Superintendent Steve Fitzgerald was cycling home from work when he was hit by a truck during rush hour on the Petone foreshore in Lower Hutt.
As he was nearing the roundabout at the Petone Esplanade at around 5:30pm he was struck by an unloaded 12-metre container truck heading in the same direction.
He died at the scene.
Fitzgerald served in the police for 41 years and was national road safety manager for five years. After that he became the national manager of the police communications centres.
The 57-year-old is survived by his wife and two sons.
Acting Police Commissioner Lyn Provost says his death has shocked and saddened his family, friends and police colleagues.
She says in the eyes of many New Zealanders he was the face of
road policing.
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