Confusion over Kenya mini bus crash reports

Confusion has greeted reports that Tauranga teenager David Fellows was not driving the mini van which crashed in Kenya last month, killing four people.

Several people were contacted by the Bay of Plenty Times last night after a report that Kenyan police investigating the accident last month now say there was no way Mr Fellows could have been driving.

The police there insist the Kenyan man who died in the crash, Chris Mmata, was behind the wheel of the van at the time of the crash.

Kenya police Traffic Commandant Samuel Kimaru told One News that according to the statement police got from the victims, the van was moving, and everything was okay until it suddenly rolled.

"It started rolling, rolling, rolling and then it just stopped. So the driver is always the key to tell us what exactly happened," Kimaru said.

Police inquiries in Kenya have cleared Mr Fellows of any blame, One News reported.

That is despite Bethlehem College saying he has admitted he was driving the van when it rolled, killing four people and injuring up to 12.

The head of Bethlehem College's board told One News the focus was on school procedure and not police matters. Matt Smalberger, whose brother Ben was injured in the crash, told the Bay of Plenty Times the statements by Kenyan police were confusing.

"I know as much as you do," he said last night.

A parent of one of the injured girls agreed it sounded confusing and he said he needed to take time to digest the news.

Mr Fellows' mother declined to comment and college principal Eion Crosbie could not be contacted last night.