Driver admits manslaughter charge after mate's road death

Photo / File photo

A Dargaville man has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of a mate who died in a horrific alcohol-fuelled car crash in Northland.

Samuel Jack Guest, 23, appeared in the High Court at Whangarei today on a charge of manslaughter after Anthony Charles Matich, 19, died when an overloaded car left the road and rolled into a ditch last November.

Guest pleaded guilty to the charge and was remanded on bail before sentencing on September 17. He had earlier pleaded guilty to five charges of driving with excess breath alcohol causing injury.

Guest was among seven young men in a car that rolled before landing in a ditch on Pouto Rd just south of Mt Wesley Coast Rd, about 1.35am on November 11.

The north-bound Subaru driven by Guest crashed off a moderate ``S'' bend and landed on its roof in a deep ditch beside the road.

Police said alcohol and speed contributed to the crash.

It is also believed two of the passengers were travelling in the open boot area behind the back seat of the car.

Mr Matich died at the scene while two others were airlifted to Whangarei Hospital with serious injuries. Three other men were taken by ambulance to Dargaville with moderate injuries.

Firefighters from Dargaville had to cut one man from the wreckage using the jaws of life.

The injured are all expected to make a full recovery.