A 20-year-old man from Pahu, Kolofo'ou has been charged with reckless driving, causing the death of a female passenger in the vehicle he was driving, on Saturday night September 3 in Nuku'alofa.

The Police confirmed this morning that the deceased was a 21-year-old woman who was sitting at the back seat of the vehicle.

He said the vehicle was traveling westward along Hala Vuna, and at the Mala'e'aloa Cemetery it went off the road and hit a power pole, bounced onto the opposite side of the road and slammed into a toa tree just before midnight on Saturday.

Police confirmed that the driver was driving under the influence of alcohol and they also suspect that he was also speeding.

The victim died at Vaiola Hospital after she was rushed there with serious injuries, he said. An inquest was carried out today to determine the cause of death.

Meanwhile, the driver who suffered bruises, was arrested at the scene and is charged under the Traffic Amendment Act of 2010 with an offence relating to the death of his passenger. He is being kept in police custody.