Teenager dies after car plunges into pond

A teenage boy died after a car careered off the road and plunged into a pond near Nelson yesterday.

Two teenage girls in the vehicle managed to escape. One of them was later charged with causing death by dangerous driving.

Two builders tried desperately to reach 17-year-old James Mathew McEnroe-Maynard, diving repeatedly into the 3m deep pond.

They were unable to free him from the vehicle, which was fully submerged in the muddy water.

Mr McEnroe-Maynard's body was recovered after firefighters drained the pond.

The car had been travelling south with three occupants, all from Motueka, northwest of Nelson, Senior Sergeant Grant Andrews of Motueka police said.

The 17-year-old driver and her female passenger escaped with minor injuries and shock, and ran almost 1km south to raise the alarm,

The accident happened in fine weather around 1.30pm.

Emergency services were alerted at 1.40pm, Mr Andrews said.

A large contingent of police, an ambulance with two officers, duty doctor Andrew McKenzie, and volunteer firefighters attended the scene.

Station officer Les Spittal of Motueka Fire Brigade said the pond held close to 70,000 litres, which took about an hour and a half to pump out and reveal the car.

The dead youth's father was thought to be in Auckland and his mother overseas, possibly in Fiji.

Mr Andrews said that following further police inquiries last night the car driver was arrested and charged with dangerous driving causing death.

She was held in custody pending an appearance in the Nelson District Court today.

Police began a crash investigation yesterday afternoon. It was expected to be completed late today.

- nzpa