Police have charged a passenger and drivers of three boy racer cars with operating a vehicle in a race causing death and injury after a fatal crash on the outskirts of Napier earlier this year.
Maree Schafer, 18, of Napier, died in the crash on Sandy Rd, Meeanee on February 19. Police allege the car Miss Schafer was a passenger in was involved in a high speed race with another car when the crash occurred.
The 19-year-old driver of that car and the drivers of the two other cars, aged 20 and 17, have been charged, along with the front seat passenger from one of the vehicles, aged 18. All are from Napier and one was a disqualified driver and one a learner driver.
The offences also relate to aiding, abetting, inciting, counselling, or procuring a person to operate a vehicle in a race which has resulted in death or injury.
Miss Schafer was set to begin a hairdressing course at the Eastern Institute of Technology the day following the fatal crash and was a keen photographer and singer. The former Central Hawke's Bay College student was the eldest of six children, all girls, and her grandparents had been closely involved in her upbringing.
Her family yesterday declined to speak to Hawke's Bay Today.
The three drivers and the passenger were granted interim name suppression when they appeared in the Napier District Court on Monday. They were bailed to appear again on August 7.
Police said it was a warning to anyone involved in boy racer activity that they could end up facing serious charges and be held culpable for the consequences.
"This includes passengers and spectators, or anyone else who encourages or aids someone to commit such offences."
- By Sam Hurley of Hawke's Bay Today
