19yo charged with manslaughter following horror Timaru crash that killed five teens

The corner of Meadows road and Seadown Road, outside Washdyke, where five people died in a crash.
The corner of Meadows road and Seadown Road, outside Washdyke, where five people died in a crash. Photo credit: Google Maps

A 19-year-old man has been charged following a horror crash near Timaru in August that took the lives of five teenagers.

The male teens died after the car hit a pole in Washdyke.

The Timaru man has been charged with five counts of manslaughter and was due to appear in the Timaru District Court this afternoon.

Aoraki Area Commander Inspector David Gaskin said it has been an incredibly difficult time as the families come to terms with the loss of their loved ones, who died in such terrible circumstances.

He said Timaru was a small community and a number of people had been impacted by the tragedy.

RNZ