No criminal charges for fatal bus crash
No criminal charges will be laid in relation to a Mt Ruapehu bus crash that killed a West Auckland schoolgirl.
A police investigation into the crash as the bus descended Ohakune Mountain Rd on July 28 has been completed.
The crash happened near the Tu¯roa skifield and killed 11-yearold Hannah Francis, from Auckland. Eighteen other people were injured, including the driver.
Detective Inspector Ross McKay, crime manager for the central district CIB, said: “Police will continue to provide support for other agencies in their ongoing investigations.”
McKay said the matter was being prepared for a coroner’s hearing.
Hannah Francis had been on a skiing trip with her father, Matthew Francis, and stepbrother Joshua.
Ruapehu Alpine Lifts had been operating the bus that crashed and chief executive Ross Copeland said while no charges had been laid against his company, it had spent more than $4 million buying six new fourwheel-drive buses and other “purpose-built” vehicles.
The company had also disposed of its old bus fleet and was now finalising a five-year contract to outsource the management of “all passenger transport services” at Mt Ruapehu. “The accident, which claimed Hannah’s life, was a tragedy and RAL will continue to work tirelessly to ensure this never happens again,” he said.
Hannah’s mother Michelle, stepfather Shane and sister Charlotte Bruton said the moment they found out that Hannah had died, their lives fell apart.
“As Hannah’s mother my heart has literally broken, there is no feeling like this in the world to compare it to,” Michelle said.
It was later revealed that the Ruapehu Alpine Lifts bus had failed multiple certificate of fitness inspections.
An Automobile Association vehicle history report obtained by the Herald had shown the bus had also recorded “inconsistent” odometer readings.
In July 2010 the bus’ odometer reading showed the bus had travelled 199,639km, but declined to 118,044km by May 2011.
The AA report says the odometer may have been tampered with, explaining the drop in kilometres.