Canterbury police have charged a 40 year old man, following an investigation into a fatal crash on Hakataramea Valley Rd in May.
A Waimate police investigation into the crash was completed in June and the file was sent to Christchurch for a decision on whether charges should be laid.
Canterbury Police yesterday confirmed that a 40 year old man had been charged with four counts of driving with excess blood alcohol causing injury and one count of driving with excess blood alcohol causing death.
He is due to appear in the Timaru District Court on September 10.
Early on May 10, a seven seater Toyota Landcruiser carrying Kurow Rugby Football Club players and supporters left Hakataramea Valley Rd on a moderate bend near Cattle Creek and rolled several times into a paddock. None of the occupants was wearing safety belts.
The Otago Regional Rescue Helicopter needed two trips to take a critically injured victim and a seriously injured victim to Dunedin Hospital, while the Westpac Rescue Helicopter, from Christchurch, took one person in a critical condition and another in a serious condition to Christchurch.
The other two occupants were both seriously injured and taken by ambulance to Timaru Hospital.
Jarrad Ethan Blackler (23), of Danseys Pass, died from his injuries in Dunedin Hospital.
