A 17-year-old Eketahuna man is facing charges related to a crash in which a teenager was killed and a woman seriously injured.
The crash involved a southbound Ford vehicle that collided head-on with a car driven by midwife Sheree Painter on SH2 about 5km south of Pahiatua on July 23. Ms Painter received serious leg and abdominal injuries in the crash.
Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Sheridan, officer in charge of the Manawatu CIB, said Cheyenne Ihaka, 16, died at the scene and a preliminary investigation suggested he was the driver of the Ford vehicle and a 17-year-old in the car with him was the passenger.
"However, after further inquiries were conducted, it was determined that this was not the case. After significant inquiries, witness interviews, and the examination of forensic items we have established Cheyenne was not the driver and the 17-year-old had staged the situation," Mr Sheridan said.
The man has been charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice, careless driving causing injury and careless driving causing death. He was to appear in the Palmerston North District Court today.
