A bus engineer charged over his alleged work on a tourist bus involved in a horror crash in the Southern Alps on New Year's Eve can be named.
James Henry Coakley, 68, was allegedly involved in the maintenance of the bus carrying a tour party of 31 Chinese tourists when it lost control and collided with a car travelling up Otira Gorge in Arthur's Pass on December 31, last year.
It overturned and slid into roadside barriers, which stopped it from plunging into a ravine.
Coakley, of Ohoka, 25kms north of Christchurch, was charged with injuring by unlawful act.
Today at Christchurch District Court, Coakley was granted a registrar's remand without having to appear before a judge. He will reappear on June 20.
Thirteen bus passengers suffered serious injuries requiring hospitalisation and surgery, including fractures and internal injuries.
