Tourist charged over head-on crash

The scene of the crash. Photo / Greymouth Star

An 18-year-old male German tourist driver involved in a head-on collision on State Highway 6, the Coast Road, yesterday has been charged with careless driving causing injury.

He had been summonsed to appear in the Nelson District Court on March 31, said Tasman district communications manager Barbara Dunn.

The collision happened about 15km north of Greymouth yesterday morning when the tourist allegedly drove on the wrong side of the road after having stopped to take photos.

The female passenger of the other car, driven by her male partner, was taken to Greymouth Base Hospital for a check-up.

It was the second crash involving a German tourist driver allegedly on the wrong side of the Coast Road in the last week.

Last Friday a 37-year-old Westport motorcyclist was hospitalised with a broken leg, elbow and wrist after a collision near Fox River.

The 26-year-old German driver was charged with careless driving causing injury. She has been remanded to appear in Manukau District Court on March 23.

Meanwhile, there have been no charges yet laid after a fatal car crash on Tauranga Bay Road, near Westport, on March 3.

A mechanical report on the vehicle was still being completed, as was a crash report, said Westport police acting sergeant Georgie Were. A 17-year-old was driving.

Backseat passenger 19-year-old Danny O'Donnell, of Waiau, was killed when the car left the road, ploughing through trees for about 20 metres before stopping.

A 16-year-old passenger was flown to Greymouth Base Hospital with a broken leg, and the three other passengers, aged 15, 17 and 18, were treated at Buller Hospital with minor injuries.

The Buller District Council has since decided to erect a 65km/h speed warning sign on the bend where the accident happened.