23 Sep 2020

Bus driver of fatal Rotorua crash sentenced

4:22 pm on 23 September 2020

The driver of a tour bus involved in a fatal crash in Rotorua last year was sentenced to home detention and disqualified from driving.

Emergency services at the scene of the bus crash near Rotorua.

Photo: Bishal Jung Basnet / Supplied

The tour bus was carrying 27 people - the majority of whom were Chinese tourists - when it rolled on State Highway 5, in Ngātira, west of Rotorua.*

Four adults and a young child were killed in the crash. Seven people received injuries requiring hospital care.

Following the crash, five helicopters, three ambulances and a St John manager were sent to the scene.

In the Rotorua District Court yesterday, Zhang Junwei was sentenced to four and a half months' home detention and disqualified from driving for 18 months.

He was also ordered to pay $1000 reparation to each of the victims or their families.

*Correction: The article has been amended to say the crash involved 27 people - the majority of whom were Chinese tourists.