A 17-year-old Wanaka youth has been arrested and charged with two counts of dangerous driving causing death and two counts of dangerous driving causing injury.
The arrested teen was the driver of a car that left Mt Aspiring Rd and hit a tree at Glendhu Bay on November 24, killing back-seat passengers Caleb Trembeth (24), a Wanaka baker, and Natalie O'Neill (19), an apprentice chef and bar worker.
Injured were Mt Aspiring College pupils Jaxon Strange (15) and Sam Haller (17), who have since recovered. The male driver was injured in the crash, which happened about 11pm.
Detective Dave Evans said the youth was on police bail and would appear in the Queenstown District Court on Monday for a registrar's hearing to discuss preliminary matters.
A plea is not expected to be made. The police would ask the court to continue bail conditions. Det Evans declined to discuss the conditions but it is understood police have imposed a driving ban, curfew and non-association orders.
Miss O'Neill's mother Cassandra Watson and sister Bernadine O'Neill (17) were pleased investigations had reached this stage.
‘‘It is about time,'' Ms Watson said. She had issues with the way she was informed of her daughter's death and that Miss O'Neill's body was stored by police in a garage behind the Wanaka police station, she said.
Wanaka police confirmed this was standard practice because the town did not have a mortuary.
‘‘I would like to see the cops change their processes so other parents don't have to go through the same scenario,'' she said.
Mr Trembeth's mother Shona Turner could not be contacted.
