Should the Dad have been charged?

Sarah Lamont at the Southland Times reports:

Would-be rescuer and Central Otago Mayor Tony Lepper says he cannot understand why the devastated father of a boy killed in Lake Dunstan last week has been charged over the incident.

Auckland man Ashish Macwan, 32, was on an Easter holiday with wife Kinnery, son Aarush and family friends when they stopped for a break at a lay-by near Cromwell on the way to Queenstown on Thursday.

Mr Macwan, who was driving, got out of the Toyota Hiace van to stretch his legs when the vehicle suddenly rolled backwards and plunged into Lake Dunstan. The adults and an 11-year-old escaped but 3-year-old Aarush did not.

The same day police charged him with careless driving causing death. He is due to appear in the Alexandra District Court on Wednesday.

Mr Lepper joined growing calls at the weekend for police to drop the charge.

I have to say that unless there are some facts not yet known, I fail to see the merit in charging the father. If he had been grossly negligent, then it would be understandable, but it appears not to be the case.