Chinese man charged over North Otago crash which killed 5-year-old girl

A Chinese man has been charged with dangerous driving causing death after a crash in North Otago claimed the life of a 5-year-old Oamaru girl yesterday.

Police said two vehicles - a rented Ford Ranger ute heading south and a northbound Holden Cruze station wagon - collided on State Highway 1, about 200m north of the Moeraki township turn-off, about 4.50pm.

The 5-year-old-girl, a passenger in the Holden, died at the scene.

Four family members from Oamaru - a 41-year-old man, 40-year-old woman, and two children aged 7 and 9 - were flown to Dunedin Hospital with serious injuries.

The scene of the accident. Photo / still from video by Shay Dewey

Police said they remained in serious but stable conditions in hospital today.

Four occupants of the rented Ford Ranger ute, all Chinese nationals, were taken to Oamaru Hospital by road.

Three of them suffered minor injuries and had since been discharged from hospital. The fourth, a middle-aged woman, remained in hospital with moderate injuries.

Police said a 32-year-old Chinese man was due to appear in Dunedin District Court tomorrow on charges resulting from the crash.

He would face one charge of dangerous driving causing death and four charges of dangerous driving causing injury.

A child's seat in the back of one of the cars. Photo / still from video by Shay Dewey

Police said they were unable to comment on the cause of the crash at this stage, as a serious crash investigation was underway.

Anyone who witnessed the crash was asked to contact their local police station.

The highway was closed overnight and a detour was in place near the scene for light vehicles only.