New charges for school bus crash accused

The scene of the accident involving a school bus and a logging truck in the Ruatoki Valley, south of Whakatane in September. Photo / Alan Gibson

The man accused of driving his logging truck into the back of a school bus packed with children - injuring 35 - near Ruatoki last September was charged with drink driving after a second crash three months later.

Ruatoki man Joe Nika Morehu faces 19 driving related charges, including 16 counts of dangerous driving causing injury and driving with excess breath alcohol.

Morehu, 42, was bailed in Whakatane District Court this morning and has entered no plea.

Police allege there was no evidence that Morehu's truck swerved or braked before colliding with the school bus in Reid Rd, near Ruatoki, on September 5, and that a blood sample taken from Morehu afterward was found to contain tetrahydrocannabinol - the active ingredient of cannabis.

Police also allege that, near Ruatoki at 1.20am on December 17, 42-year-old Morehu crashed a Ford car into a kohanga reo, a tractor and hit a fence, and was later processed with 165mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood.

It was further alleged that on the day of the crash, Morehu had been driving from 4am - resting only during a breakdown between 7.30am and 9am.

The bus and cab of the truck were shunted about 50m into a paddock while the trailer tipped on the road.

Many children were injured, including the 8-year-old grand-daughter of the bus driver, who was left in a critical condition.

Only 16 of those hurt in the crash had injuries serious enough to to warrant charging the driver under the Land Transport Act.

Police prosecutor Chris Howard said Morehu's defence may seek an independent crash report to test against the police investigation.

His bail conditions restricted him from driving a motor vehicle.

He is due back in Whakatane District Court on March 22.