The 18-year-old driver of a vehicle that crashed into the entrance of the Queen Mother’s residence, Tufumahina, on Sunday 8 November. has been arrested and charged.

Police in Nuku’alofa arrested the youth yesterday evening, 9 November. The driver and two other male passengers had fled after the crash.

The accused was charged with two counts of driving without a license and reckless driving. He has been released waiting on a date to appear at the Magistrate’s Court.

Police also confirmed the accused is the son of the owner of the vehicle from Hala-‘o-vave.

The crash occurred around noon when the vehicle was heading to Nuku’alofa. The vehicle dived into a fence, narrowly missed one of the twin tigers at the entrance to Tufumahina.

Hon Tupou ‘Ahome’e Tuita-Faupula confirmed the statues of the two tigers were a gift to HRH Princess Pilolevu Tuita on her 21^st birthday from Pulotu Tui’one, a Tongan master carver residing in Hawaii.