“The truck driver did not put a safe distance and so when [Zipser’s] motorbike slowed down and gave a signal to make that right turn, he was surprised and ended up hitting the back of the motorbike,” Buleleng Police spokesman I Gede Sumarjaya told Coconuts Bali. 

Sumarjaya explained that the truck also hit another motorcycle, causing it to hit another car situated in front of it on the road. While authorities, citing eyewitness accounts, claimed Zipser hadn’t been wearing a helmet, Zipser’s wife, who asked that her name not be used, speaking through a family friend, said that was simply not true.

“Of course, Peter was wearing a helmet,” she was quoted as saying by family friend, David Chadwick.

A medical team from the Santi Graha Seririt General Hospital declared Zipser dead at the scene. The other rider, identified by the police as Ketut Mariada, survived, but also suffered injuries and was immediately taken to the hospital to be treated.  

“The deceased is at Parama Sidhi Singaraja General Hospital for the time being, while the injured victim is undergoing treatment at Santi Graha Seririt General Hospital,” Sumarjaya added.

An ongoing investigation into the accident is headed by Putu Diah Kurniawandari from the Buleleng Police.

Chadwick also told Coconuts Bali via email that a funeral ceremony for Zipser took place at the YPUH Crematorium in Buleleng regency on Monday, July 15. He added that Zipser and his wife has lived in Bali for about nine years. 

CORRECTION: A previous version of this article based on local media accounts misidentified the deceased as an Australian. He was Austrian. We apologize for any confusion caused.

NOTE: This story has been updated to include information provided by a family friend of the late Peter Zipser. 

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