“Everything about that day was just luck. If anyone had been behind the 4WD that hit me, I would have been killed.”
October 9, 2025 was like any other day for cyclist Andrea Jordan. Her daily routine always featured time on the bike because keeping fit for work and mentally strong is important.
“I was riding a 16-kilometre loop that takes me to the river, the sea and then up a straight stretch of road that is known for unpredictable driver behaviour and speed. On this particular day it wasn’t busy. I had my high vis backpack; I always ride with a MPS concussion helmet (which I swear by) and don’t wear ear-pods so I can listen for cars.”
Andrea describes herself as a capable cyclist, keen mountain biker and has spent many hours in the seat of a dirt bike and horse saddle over the years.
“I heard a small truck coming. It passed me, giving me a good metre of space. It was an LPG truck carrying noisy gas bottles. I then heard a huge bang, and my first thought was a gas bottle had fallen off the truck and hit me. But I soon realised it was a vehicle that had hit me from behind. It hit my right buttock which sent me flying. I flew along the side of the vehicle, breaking its wing mirror and I went sideways and my head hit the road, bouncing back up and rolling twice before landing in an upright position on the side of the road. I saw my bike fly through the air and into the bushes.
The 4WD vehicle had stopped about 100m away. I started screaming “Stop. Help”. The driver got out, checked on me and went back to the car to ring the ambulance.
I fought hard to not lose consciousness from that moment to when the ambulance arrived and the journey to hospital.
I realised I was in bad shape with the pain straight away. I had trouble breathing and after six days in hospital, learned that I had a punctured lung, torn liver, 5-10 displaced ribs (three require surgery in the future), fractures of the spine that did not affect the spinal cord, so apparently, I am very lucky. I have since learned however the spinal fractures will not completely recover and I can expect to live with pain.
I also fractured my shoulder blade/ shoulder, my elbow is still sore, and I have a concussion that triggered severe headaches. I haven’t been able to think straight, I am tired.”
ACC has suggested Andrea’s recovery will be a minimum of 5-months. It’s a busy time of year for a self-employed business owner. “I need to be on the tools. I can't afford a recovery to be that long.”
As Andrea reflects on that day, she knows her helmet saved her life. She’s amazed there’s only a slight dent on her helmet after the accident.
Going forward she is speaking up for other road users in her community of 18-years. “I’m terrified for other cyclists on that road and couldn’t bear it if someone got hurt.”
Andrea has thrown her support behind community efforts to get a pathway built that would allow vulnerable road users safer passage between the main township and beach community. “It’s a pathway that has been talked about for years and it’s time it was put in.”
What I have experienced is life changing and I don’t want this to happen to anyone else. I can’t do what I would normally do in a day, which is a lot. Please maintain a safe distance behind vehicles on the road so you have time to see what is in front of you. And take extra care around cyclists, horse riders and people walking - Pass WIDE and SLOW. The consequences of hitting someone is something no one wants to live with.
The New Zealand Vulnerable Road User Charitable Trust wishes to thank Andrea for her courage in sharing her personal story and journey to recovery.
