Kiwi dies in New Year's Day accident in Vanuatu

File photo / NZ Herald

A New Zealand woman died riding on the back of ute which crashed in Vanuatu on New Year's Day, Vanuatu's Daily Post has reported.

The accident occurred in the town of Luganville on Espiritu Santo island at 10am, when a the Toyota ute, carrying nine passengers, collided with an power pole.

A witness told the Daily Post the ute was travelling at high speed before the crash. After the accident the driver turned around to pick up the deceased and two other passengers and took them to Northern District Hospital.

The driver has been charged with causing death by reckless driving and will be appearing in court on January 14.

- NZ HERALD STAFF