Charges possible in van crash

Police investigating a fatal crash south of Turangi are "looking at all options" and are not ruling out charges against the driver of a minivan that flipped several times, killing three American students.

Bay of Plenty road policing manager Inspector Kevin Taylor said alcohol, drugs and speed were not factors in the accident that claimed the lives of Daniela Rosanna Lekhno, Roch Jauberty and Austin Brashears and injured five others, one critically, on State Highway 46 about 7.30am on Saturday.

Boston University said 26 students were travelling in three vans on their way to the Tongariro Crossing when one of the minivans drifted off the road and then rolled when the driver tried to correct it.

Asked if police were considering charges against the driver, who was one of the students, Mr Taylor said they were "not ruling anything out".

"And we will wait until we have come to a logical conclusion with the investigation and then we will make a decision."

He said the totalled van had a current warrant of fitness and registration but police were doing a full mechanical inspection.

Police have also completed interviews with passengers and the driver while serious crash unit investigators were yesterday at the scene making a forensic map of the accident.

Meg Theriault, who was living in Sydney and was not a Boston University student, remains in a critical condition in Waikato Hospital's intensive care unit.

All the other injured are now out of hospital.

Waikato District Health Board spokeswoman Mary Anne Gill said she had received interview requests from several United States media agencies.

A remembrance service for the students killed will be held at the University of Auckland tomorrow.