Driver charged over friend's death

An 18-year-old Manawatu man has been charged with manslaughter over the death of his teenage friend in a crash in Palmerston North three months ago.

The teenager, from Bunnythorpe, was driving a Nissan which collided head-on with a Toyota ute on John F Kennedy Drive on June 6.

Front-seat passenger Nathan Conlon, 17, from Feilding, died the next day from his injuries.

The 17-year-old female driver of the ute and a 20-year-old male passenger suffered minor injuries.

A detailed investigation "involving a degree of scientific analysis" had resulted in enough evidence to bring a charge of manslaughter and two charges of driving with excess blood alcohol causing injury against Nissan driver, said Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Sheridan.

The teenager is due to appear in Palmerston North District Court today.

- NZPA