Gang member punches driver in head during Johnny Danger memorial ride video

DAVID WHITE/STUFF

Friends gather at the site where Johnny 'Danger' Bennett died in a motorcycle accident.

A Head Hunters member punched a man in the head during a memorial ride for stuntman Johnny 'Danger' Bennett in Auckland.

Police are seeking witnesses to the serious assault which occurred in Hillcrest on the North Shore on April 27. 

About 12 Head Hunter members on motorcycles took part in the ride for Bennett, the social media star who died in a motorbike crash on Anzac Day. 

It went from Auckland's CBD to Dairy Flat, culminating in a gathering at the crash site.

About 9.40pm, one of the gang members had a minor crash with a Nissan ute, which was not part of the memorial ride, in Coronation Rd, police said.

Johnny 'Danger' Bennett died in a motorbike crash on Anzac Day.
SUPPLIED

Johnny 'Danger' Bennett died in a motorbike crash on Anzac Day.

The driver and his passenger got out of their ute to check on the motorcycle rider, who was not injured.

"The offender has punched the driver in the head causing the victim to fall to the ground where he remained unconscious," Waitemata police detective senior sergeant Marcia Murray said.

"He has then punched the passenger twice before the group left on their motorcycles. 

"The driver of the ute was left badly injured and the pair are shaken from their ordeal, and are still recovering."

The motorbike involved in the incident was moved to a superette carpark on the intersection of Stanaway St and Coronation Rd, Murray said.

Police were reviewing CCTV footage and wanted to speak to anyone who saw the crash or the assault. 

In particular, they were looking to find a man riding a moped or scooter, wearing a red and silver helmet, who rode into the car park within minutes of the incident.

They also wanted to speak to a man and woman walking their white terrier dog about 9.53pm, who stopped to look at the damaged motorbike.

Murray described the incident as an "unprovoked, malicious assault".

Anyone with information was asked to phone Waitemata CIB on 09 477 5261.

Information can also be provided anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

The site of the crash where Johnny 'Danger' Bennett died on Anzac Day.
DAVID WHITE/STUFF

The site of the crash where Johnny 'Danger' Bennett died on Anzac Day.

Bennett died while on a ride for Wolfpack Incorporated, an organisation that raffles bikes to raise money for charity, when he crashed and died. 

More than 800 of Bennett's friends and fans signed up to take part in the memorial ride two days later.

Hundreds of mourners lined the streets, and police and the Fire Service cordoned off an area for people to congregate.

Friends and fans gather at the crash site on April 27.
DAVID WHITE/STUFF

Friends and fans gather at the crash site on April 27.

WHO WAS JOHNNY 'DANGER' BENNETT?

The 29-year-old social media stuntman was famous for his short video posts, where he rode a motorbike naked, tumbled out of a high-speed supermarket trolley, and poured beer over a baby's head.

In 2015, he losted his driver's licence and was fined $1000 after 'bodysurfing' over Auckland's Harbour Bridge on the roof of a taxi.

He was later given his own show on MTV.

A young Johnny 'Danger' Bennett, right, with his brothers Waynne and Steven.
SUPPLIED

A young Johnny 'Danger' Bennett, right, with his brothers Waynne and Steven.

During the series, he developed his eponymous Danger Lager, which went on to become New Zealand's fastest selling beer.

Danger Lager was later dropped by Foodstuffs – which owns Pak'n'Save and New World supermarkets – because the company decided it did not approve of the reckless behaviour Bennett built his brand on.

Family friend Jacci Matson said Bennett's life could be summed up by a saying he himself used liberally: don't let your dreams remain dreams.

"He was this beautiful free spirit here to remind us to live life to the fullest and just never give up," she said.