Arrest warrant issued for doctor

A warrant has been issued for the arrest of a Californian doctor who left the country after allegedly causing a crash that injured a Queenstown woman.

Raman Sidhar (73) was charged with dangerous driving causing injury to Sara Duan after a head-on crash in the resort town on January 27.

Sidhar has not returned to New Zealand to face the charge or have a restorative justice meeting with Ms Duan, who suffered a spinal fracture and had her car written off.

At the fourth call of Sidhar’s case in the Queenstown District Court on Tuesday, prosecuting sergeant Ian Collin asked Judge Russell Walker for the warrant on the basis the defendant had twice been warned that would be the likely outcome if he did not appear.

Judge Walker told Ms Duan, who attended the hearing, that he was sorry about the outcome.

"This is a very unsuccessful end of the matter as far as you’re concerned."

After the crash in Frankton Rd, Sidhar co-operated with police and underwent a breath test, but flew to Auckland with his wife later that day.

The couple departed for the United States a few days later.