The New Zealand police have charged a Samoan seasonal worker with careless driving causing death after a tragic single vehicle crash on Maunganui Road in Tauranga, claimed the life of 36 year old Vaetasi Selesele Asiata at around 5pm on Sunday 23rd August.
New Zealand police confirmed that a 35-year-old was charged with careless or negligent driving causing death, and is due to appear in the Tauranga District Court on Wednesday.
Two other people were injured in the crash suffering moderate to serious injuries while four passengers escaped unharmed.
According to Assistant Chief Executive Officer for Labour, Export and Employment, Lemalu Nele Leilua, the driver had been the group’s team leader, and Asiata was in the front passenger seat.
“They were returning from their shift, and had fallen asleep, including the driver”, said Lemalu in an interview with Samoa Global News.
The tragedy struck just days before Vaetasi Asiata was due to return home on a scheduled repatriation flight.
Asiata is survived by his parents living in Savaii as well as his wife, Lucy, and their one-year-old daughter.
There have been floods of messages for the seasonal worker’s family from the public.
