Names released re fatal crash - Lindis Pass

Police have released the names of the two men who died in a crash on the Lindis Pass north of Cromwell yesterday afternoon.

They were:-

Grant John ROBERTS, aged 43 years of Timaru.
Dennis Michael PEDERSON, aged 54 years of Tauranga.

Enquiries into the crash are continuing, but Police have now charged a 20 year old woman, a visiting Chinese national, with two charges of careless driving causing death relating to this crash.  Other charges are likely to follow.

The woman is injured and receiving medical treatment, but is likely to appear in the Alexandra District Court later today.

While we have a clear picture of what occurred, we are still asking for witnesses to come forward regarding the driving behaviour of both groups involved prior to the crash.  We are particularly interested in movements of a dark coloured Nissan sedan with a single female occupant traveling south from Omarama towards Cromwell between midday and 2.15pm yesterday.  We believe that this vehicle was following a white stationwagon a short time before the crash occurred.  We would like the driver of that white stationwagon to contact Police.

We would also appreciate any witnesses who saw a group of 8-10 motorcyclists on large Harley Davidson motorcycles traveling from Cromwell towards Omarama yesterday afternoon around the same time.

Cromwell Police have had several people contact them today with information and that is appreciated.

The female pillion passenger on the rear of one of the motorcycles remains in a critical condition in Dunedin Hospital.  Her name will not be released.

Alcohol is not suspected to be a factor in the crash.  Police staff, including the Police Serious Crash Investigator are continuing to work on the investigation.

Given that the matter is now before the court, it is not envisaged that further media releases will be made.