Teen killed in Maraetai crash named

A teenage girl killed when an overloaded 4WD vehicle hit a pole and rolled down a bank on Monday night has been named as was Merkayla Charman, 16, from Manurewa.

She was one of seven passengers in a Toyota Hilux driven by another teen driver who lost control late on Monday night, hit a light pole and rolled down a bank, near Maraetai, east Auckland.

Ms Charman died and the others received minor to moderate injuries.

A blood sample was taken from the driver but police said it would be several weeks before it was known if alcohol was a factor in the crash.

It was too early to say if the driver would be charged.

- NZPA