A Tesla driver is defending a charge of careless driving causing death, over a crash in northern Waikato in January 2022

The Herald's Open Justice reports Auckland man Saurabh Sharma on trial in Huntly District Court over the crash in Taupiri, which killed his passenger Shubham Kaur .

Locals have told the court how they saw the car upside down near a hedge, as crackling power lines dangled above and around the car.

Smoke and flames erupted around the car, as bystanders told Sharma to get out of the car, while being mindful of live dangling power lines.

Police say they found several fresh gouge marks on the road, but Sharma says he had travelled the road several times and never lost control.