Two cyclists have been seriously injured after a hit-and-run south of Auckland this morning.
The men, Brendan Dallas and Benjamin Scully, both aged in their early 20s, have been taken to Middlemore Hospital for treatment after being hit from behind.
One of the injured men ended up 10 metres down a bank requiring fire services to extricate him. He is suffering a serious back injury, police say.
The other was thrown over the guard rail and has cuts and bruises.
It happened just north of Mercer, on State Highway One.
Both of the men are from Wellington and were on a charity ride
from Auckland to Wellington.
Police found both bicycles or what looks like bicycles of the
riders, as they were extensively damaged from the impact.
Police say the pair are very lucky to be alive and would like
public assistance in locating the offending vehicle, either a van
or light truck.
There will be damage to the left hand side of the vehicle, which
will also be missing the wing mirror, police say.
