A 24-year-old Whakatane man has been charged in relation to a crash that killed young and popular Masterton woman Shannon Buick.
Shannon, 22, was killed in a high-speed car crash on Paierau Rd just after 6.30pm August 30 last year. Her younger sister, 16-year-old Wairarapa College student Kaitlin Buick, was seriously injured in the crash.
The pair were heading to the family home on the night their car was hit by a car travelling towards Masterton, allegedly driven by the 24-year-old, who can not be named until he has appeared in court.
Shannon was killed instantly and emergency services crews had to extricate a seriously injured Kaitlin from the car.
The teenager underwent surgery in Wellington Hospital for injuries including two broken legs and a broken elbow and wrist. The family kept vigil at her hospital bedside.
Shannon, who was a science graduate from Massey University, had just left work, picking up her sister from her after-school job at Mitre 10 Mega on Ngaumutawa Rd minutes before the fatal crash. The 24-year-old driver is facing two charges; one of careless driving causing death and another of careless driving causing injury. He is due to appear in Masterton District Court on Monday, February 24.