German man charged over fatal campervan crash

File photo / NZ Herald

A German man has been charged over a fatal crash involving two groups of foreign drivers in Southland on Boxing Day.

The 43-year-old man has been charged with careless use causing death and two charges of careless use causing injury.

He would appear in Invercargill District Court tomorrow, police said.

Police thanked members of the public who stopped and helped in the aftermath of the crash.

"This was a difficult and traumatic situation and people showed considerable courage when going to those injured persons' aid."

A 22-year-old female Chinese student who was critically injured in the collision between a car and a campervan in Southland on Boxing Day died in Dunedin Hospital on Saturday afternoon.

Another student remained in a critical condition at the same hospital.

The crash happened on the Athol Five Rivers Highway, when the campervan turned right from State Highway 6 on to State Highway 97, heading towards Mossburn, about 4.15pm on Friday.

The car was carrying two Southern Institute of Technology students and another passenger.

The campervan was carrying two adults and two children, believed to be German.

One of the children was treated at hospital, while the others in the campervan were treated at the scene.