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A mother has been charged over the deaths of three of her children in a fatal road crash last year.
Kathie Rifle, of Palmerston North, was driving a van containing her four children when it crashed off the State Highway 56 at Opiki, 18km southwest of Palmerston North, last September.
Two of the children, Ashlie, 3, and Hikurangi, 1, died at the scene. Another child, Hannah, 5, died in Palmerston North Hospital hours later.
Tamati Rifle, 8, suffered a broken neck but has since recovered. Mrs Rifle was also injured in the crash, suffering internal injuries and a broken ankle.
Mrs Rifle's lawyer Thomas Sutcliffe confirmed to the Manawatu Standard she had been charged with three counts of careless driving causing death and one count of careless driving causing injury.
The crash occurred on a straight stretch of road and emergency workers found the van upside down in a ditch.
Mr Sutcliffe said Mrs Rifle would appear in Palmerston North District Court on March 20.
- NZPA
