Chinese tourist driver accused over 5-year-old's death in Otago crash gets suppression

The scene of the accident. Photo / still from video by Shay Dewey

The 5-year-old girl killed in a crash in North Otago on Saturday was Ruby Jay Marris of Oamaru.

Police said her 40-year-old mother, 41-year-old father and two sisters, aged 9 and 7, all remained in stable conditions in Dunedin Hospital after the crash near Moeraki.

A 32-year-old Chinese tourist appeared in court today charged with dangerous driving causing death, and four counts of dangerous driving causing injury, in relation to the crash that killed Ruby.

He is accused of driving the ute that collided head-on with the station wagon the Marris family were travelling in.

The tourist was granted name suppression in the Dunedin District Court today after his lawyer expressed concerns for his safety.

He was bailed to an Auckland address and surrendered his passport and driver's licence.

The lawyer for the Beijing resident applied for interim name suppression and a ban on publication of any photographs of the defendant before his next appearance in the Dunedin District Court.

Michael Kan of Auckland told Justice of the Peace Ashley Broad today that the defendant was aware he was accused of causing the death of a 5-year-old girl and was very concerned about his own safety.

Prosecutor Adrian Cheyne did not oppose bail being granted until the defendant's next appearance on March 13, but he asked for strict bail conditions.

The man is charged with one count of dangerous driving causing death and four counts of dangerous driving causing injury. He entered no plea to any of the charges and was remanded on bail to an Auckland address.

He must surrender his passport and driver's licence, is not allowed to drive and must not try to leave New Zealand.