Accused flees court date

Worthy Redeemed. Photo / Supplied

The family of one of three teenagers killed in a car crash are furious a 37-year-old due to appear on charges of manslaughter has fled.

Worthy Redeemed, formerly Lee Silvester, failed to turn up at Rangiora District Court on Tuesday.

He faces three manslaughter charges and a charge of dangerous driving resulting in injury.

Jethro Bronson Cooper, 16, Kodee Marie Rapana, 15, and Dean Jonathan Mcartney, 21, died when the car they were in collided with a tourist bus at Woodend, near Christchurch.

Redeemed and another passenger in the car survived.

Police believe he may have fled to the North Island. He has "Praise God" tattooed on his neck.

Cooper's 22-year-old sister Sara Pearson said her family was angry and distressed knowing Redeemed was on the run.

"It's added fuel to the fire. Everyone's been so angry since the crash happened and now he's making this whole situation so much harder for all three families. He needs to turn himself in," she said.