Man charged with manslaughter following road crash

An 18-year-old man from Bunnythorpe is facing a manslaughter charge after the death of his teenage friend in a road crash in Palmerston North in June.

The crash occurred late on Saturday, 6 June, on John F Kennedy Drive, Palmerston North when a Nissan car collided head-on with a Toyota Ute.

17-year-old Nathan Conlon from Feilding, who was the front seat passenger in the Nissan, died the following day from head injuries sustained in the crash. The 17-year-old female driver of the Toyota suffered a fractured wrist and a 20-year-old male passenger suffered a number of facial lacerations, some of which required stitches.

Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Sheridan said: "A detailed and robust investigation has been ongoing since the crash involving a degree of scientific analysis. We are at the point in that investigation that we have sufficient evidence to bring a charge of manslaughter and two charges of driving with excess blood alcohol causing injury, against the driver of the Nissan."

He will appear at Palmerston North District Court later today.