A 20-year-old driver whose BMW collided with an open truck full of passengers, resulting in the death of a one-year old baby boy, has been charged after he was released from Vaiola Hospital and detained in police custody.

Paletili Afu from Vaini faced two counts of reckless driving causing death and reckless driving causing greivous bodily harm.

The fatal accident occured on Saturday night, 13 August on Taufa’ahau road at Veitongo. The baby and his parents were among eight passengers in the back of the open van, which was heading east on Taufa’ahau Road, when the BMW collided with them after it tried to overtake two vehicles in front at around 11:05pm.

The baby who fell from the van died on Sunday, 14 August at the hospital.

The remaining passengers and drivers who were also injured in the crash all survived.