Warrant over car death

An arrest warrant has been issued for a Briton whose 9-year-old sister died in a car he was driving.

Thomas Edward Matthews, 21, has been charged with careless driving causing the death of Paris Jacqueline Scott and careless driving causing injury to Jill Matthews, his mother.

The vehicle slid on ice at Haast in South Westland last July 4 and rolled.

Paris Scott died at the scene. Matthews and his mother were taken to hospital.

Sergeant Graeme Eden told the Greymouth District Court yesterday that Matthews had left the country after being told charges would be laid.

He said Matthews was a seasonal worker, usually employed in the Queenstown area over winter, and was expected to return to New Zealand this year.

Judge Edward Ryan issued the warrant.

- NZPA