Driver charged after bus crash kills five tourists in Rotorua
Friday, 20 September 2019
A man has been charged following a tour bus crash that killed five Chinese tourists near Rotorua.
Four adults and one young child died after the bus rolled after failing to take a 'moderate to easy bend' on State Highway 5 in Ngatira.
The man charged, a Chinese national, is facing careless use of a motor vehicle causing death .
He is due to appear in Auckland District Court on Friday.
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The investigation into the crash is ongoing and police aren't ruling out further charges, police said in a statement.
The tour bus had 27 people on board when it rolled off the road on September 4.
The driver wasn't seriously injured, according to police.
Survivors have previously spoken of the crying and chaos moments after the bus rolled.
Two were left with serious injuries and four with moderate injuries, while others were able to walk away from the scene.
The day after the crash, Chinese Ambassador Wu Xi paid a sombre visit to the scene, where she lay flowers at the scene of the crash and bowed three times.
She described the relatives of the victims as 'very traumatised'.
A Givealittle page has been created for the victims' families and those injured in the collision.
It said words 'can not describe the pain these families feel about the loss of their beloved ones and those injured passengers'.