Dad charged after quad bike crash

Daniel McGregor has been charged with drink-driving and cannabis-related offences after a quad bike crash that seriously injured his daughter.

McGregor, 28, his six-year-old girl, and three other adults were on the quad bike when it crashed on Okaihau Road Waimarama, shortly before midnight on January 2.

She was thrown from the bike, suffering a fractured skull and injuries to her face, neck, spine and back.

She will be transferred tomorrow from Starship Hospital to Auckland's Wilson Rehabilitation Centre.

McGregor faces four charges of driving with excess breath alcohol causing injury, one of reckless driving, one of cultivating cannabis and one of possessing utensils.

He will appear in the Hastings District Court on February 19.

According to figures from ACC, more than 1400 children have been injured while on quad bikes or other all-terrain vehicles in the past four years.

Since 2008,  ACC has paid $29 million on 11,084 claims for injuries and 26 claims for accidental deaths involving quad bikes and ATVs.

Among those were 260 children aged 4 or under, 472 children aged between 5 and 9, and 733 aged 10 and over.

- © Fairfax NZ News