Tara Hoeben, 14, was riding with her father, Clint Hoeben, when he was killed on Thursday.

A man who crashed into and killed a cyclist going for a bike with his daughter was wanted for burglary and was apparently driving to visit a friend during lockdown.

Clint Hoeben was killed while out on a short ride in North Canterbury with his 14-year-old daughter, Tara, on Thursday. Hoeben was giving her tips on changing gears, when a driver heading in the same direction crashed into them, killing the father-of-two and leaving Tara with minor injuries.

Stuff understands the driver of the van is James Solvander. Solvander was wanted by police for burglary at the time of the crash. It's also understood he was not an essential worker, and refused to tell police why he was driving.

STACY SQUIRES/STUFF Emergency services were called to the crash on Oxford Rd, Fernside about 12.40pm on Thursday.

Solvander appeared in court on Friday on a burglary charge and is due to appear in court again on April 20. He is yet to face any charges in relation to the crash. It's understood he refused to tell police why he was driving during lockdown.

READ MORE: Family in shock after dad cycling with daughter hit and killed by driver

Hoeben's wife, Charmaine Hoeben, was unaware of the burglary charge until contacted by Stuff on Wednesday. She said Solvander was a "coward".

supplied Crash victim Clint Hoeben's mangled bike, and the van that hit him and his daughter.

"So many people are saying they felt sorry for him, but just learning that makes everything so much more senseless.

"My husband didn't deserve to die."

Solvander's father, Pete Solvander, said his son had a "perfectly legitimate reason" for driving.

HOEBEN FAMILY The Hoeben family, from left, Charmaine, Cameron, Clint and Tara.

"My understanding is the law says you're allowed to have contact with one other person that is a significant person. That's my understanding that James was just exercising his right to do that. He was alone in the vehicle, he wasn't travelling with anyone else. He was visiting a person who was close to him, a friend."

​His son was "very distressed" about what happened.

"We're very distraught and upset about the situation. Our thoughts go out to the family involved who lost a loved one and we would also appreciate our own privacy at this time."

HOEBEN FAMILY Clint Hoeben, left and his wife, Charmaine were married for 26 years.

He was not aware of the circumstances of exactly what happened "other than he was driving and there was an accident, that's all I know".

Inspector Peter Cooper said it was "highly likely" the driver, who he did not name, would face charges but his level of "culpability" was yet to be determined.

It was a fine day and, on the face of it, there was no reason why the driver should not have seen Hoeben and his daughter, Cooper said.

HOEBEN FAMILY One of Clint Hoeben's biggest passions was dogs, his wife says.

Hoeben wanted that question answered.

"It is a dead straight road clear blue skies middle of the day and if he was paying any type of attention he had to have noticed them well before he even got close to them."

Cooper said police were investigating whether speed, alcohol, drugs or distraction were factors in the crash. He declined to comment further.

OVERWHELMING SUPPORT

Hoeben said the family had received from "hundreds of people", across the country, in the North Canterbury community and family and friends around the world.

"So many people have reached out to us, we are so overwhelmed with the love, it's so incredible that it's helping us.

"It's so comforting knowing that he was loved and all those people are with us and supporting us, we're getting messages and cards and home baking, it's amazing, it's overwhelming. I don't have words to express the gratefulness of everyone, complete strangers. It's incredible."

The family viewed Clint Hoeben's body on Tuesday, before a funeral that will broadcast online.

"He looked content, he looked injured, you could see the absolute devastation but we saw past that."