30 Dec 2014

Guilty plea after fatal Southland crash

5:10 pm on 30 December 2014

A 43-year-old German man has pleaded guilty to a charge of careless driving causing death after his car collided with a campervan killing a 22-year-old woman on Boxing Day.

The accident happened in Southland at the intersection of State Highway Six and 97, and seven others required hospital treatment.

One person remains in hospital in a serious condition.

Mario Pieper appeared today at the Invercargill District Court and was remanded on bail.

He has been allowed to fly home to Germany with his wife and two children but must return to Invercargill for sentencing on 24 February.

His bail conditions state he must not drive.