Man charged over Easter double fatality

A 19-year-old man will face dangerous driving charges after two people were killed in a head-on smash on the Desert Road in the central North Island over the Easter weekend.

Haina Gladys Stewart, 48, and 19-year-old Abdullah Aldousari died after a car tried to overtake a truck and collided with an oncoming car on State Highway 1, about 15km north of Waiouru, on April 4.

The deceased were front-seat passengers in the two cars.

A man will appear in Hamilton District Court on May 12 charged with two counts of dangerous driving causing death and four counts of dangerous driving causing injury.

Twelve people were killed on roads over the Easter weekend -- the worst holiday toll in 18 years.

- NZPA