Terenzo Bozzone seriously injured when hit by truck
Terenzo Bozzone was taken to Auckland City Hospital in serious condition after being hit by a logging truck while cycling on Waitakere Road in northwest Auckland, New Zealand just after 2 pm Tuesday.
New Zealand’s Stuff news website cited a witness on scene: "When the truck drove off I saw a man lying on the road. I jumped out to help him; he was semi-conscious and his bike was in two pieces.” Stuff reported that the witness said he realized who the cyclist was when Bozzone’s father showed up on the scene. “I left as the paramedics were loading [Bozzone] into the ambulance. He was conscious but seemed to be in a lot of pain."
The witness described the vehicle as a brown logging lorry with metal plates.
An Instagram post on Bozzone’s account Tuesday evening said the athlete was in the emergency department where his injuries were being assessed.
An Auckland police media reported that police were “making inquiries” to speak with the driver.
Emergency services were on scene and the road was closed for three hours after the incident on Waitakere Road in Kumeu.
Bozzone is a 33-year-old champion triathlete with four junior world titles and the 2008 Ironman 70.3 World Championship gold. Bozzone has 23 Ironman 70.3 victories, and won Ironman New Zealand this year in his 10th try with a record time of 7:59:56. Bozzone also holds the course record at the Wildflower Long Course Triathlon which he set in 2006. Bozzone has been on a hot streak in the past year and is considered a top contender for this year’s Ironman World championship in Kona.
Bozzone and his wife Kelly have two children – a son, Cavallo, and a daughter, Zaya.
Initial reports from the hospital stated that Bozzone suffered a concussion and head and facial injuries and was in stable condition. In a post on his Facebook page, Bozzone added: "I’m doing ok and taking one day at a time. Once my brain has had time to rest, I’ll be having facial surgery to repair my broken check bone. I feel so so lucky to be alive and the accident is still under investigation. Please be so safe out there."
