The 43-year-old defendant appeared in the Dunedin District Court yesterday, where he was granted name suppression "to protect fair-trial rights" and allowed bail without opposition from police.
He is charged with dangerous driving and drug-impaired driving causing the death of 65-year-old Alan George Weir on September 11 last year.
According to court documents, the defendant had 90ng of meth per millilitre of blood — nearly twice the legal "high-risk level".
Emergency services were called to the crash on State Highway 1 at Makikihi at 6.05am after reports of a collision between a car and truck.
NZME reported Mr Weir worked for Silver Fern Farms at Pareora for more than 16 years.
His site manager, Jason O’Connell, said at the time his loss was "felt deeply across the site".
"He was not only a valuable part of our maintenance crew but also a much-loved personality who will be missed by all the team he worked with."
One patient was treated at the scene and another was taken to Dunedin Hospital, Hato Hone St John said.
A Fire and Emergency New Zealand spokesperson told NZME one of the vehicles was on fire.
Police at the time urged witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage to come forward.
The defendant will appear in court again next month.
