An American student has been charged with causing a fatal crash that killed three of his friends who were about to walk the Tongariro Crossing.
Stephen Houseman, 20, will appear in the Auckland District Court later today.
The Boston University student has been charged with careless driving causing the deaths of Nicholas Jauberty, Daniela Lekhno and Austin Brashears.
He is also charged with four counts of careless driving causing injury. The students who were injured were Kathy Moldawer, Alys McAlphine, Emily Melton and Margaret Theriault.
Miss Theriault, who was living in Sydney and was not a Boston University student, is in a critical condition in Waikato Hospital.
Her family have flown from the United States to be with her.
Houseman and the others had been on an exchange programme with Auckland University and Auckland University of Technology.
They were in a group of 16 who travelled to the central North Island in a two-car convoy at the weekend.
Police said after the crash it appeared the driver over-corrected after drifting onto gravel on the left side of the road.
Yesterday, Bay of Plenty road policing manager Inspector Kevin Taylor told the Herald the van had a current warrant of fitness and registration but was undergoing a full mechanical inspection.
He said alcohol, drugs and speed were not thought to be factors.
Mr Taylor today said the decision to charge the driver was not taken lightly and would have a major impact on him.
"However we are faced with a situation where three people have died and others are seriously injured and we must apply the law in an objective and dispassionate way.
"The process from here is that the case will be put before the court. Once the court process is concluded it will then be for the Coroner to make the final determination about cause of death.
"We have ruled out any use of drugs or alcohol by any of the young people involved, including the driver.
"I have met with the students and their families to update them about the process and answer their questions. Police have also returned the property from the vehicle which crashed.''
Houseman will have to surrender his passport.
A remembrance service for the dead will be held at Auckland University tomorrow.
- Andrew Koubaridis
