A teenage driver has been charged with criminal negligence causing bodily harm after a violent high-speed crash a year ago.

Vancouver police say Yue Hui Wang, who was 18 years old at the time, was travelling at 250 km/h in a parent's Mercedes — five times the posted speed limit. The passenger in the car's front seat was 17.

"We're very lucky that we didn't pull two dead bodies out of this vehicle," said Const. Brian Montague on Wednesday, "It's nothing more than a fluke."

The 18-year-old driver of a black Mercedes is charged with dangerous driving causing bodily harm after driving at speeds five times the posted limit. (Vancouver Police Department)

The crash occurred April 12 last year at about 3 a.m. PT on S.W. Marine Drive. Police allege Wang crossed the centre line and smashed into a front yard near 57 Avenue, leaving the black Mercedes he was driving a mangled mess.

"At 250 km/h, when investigators told me how fast he was going, I honestly didn't think anyone could travel that fast on that stretch of highway."

The 17-year-old passenger was taken to hospital with serious head injuries, facial injuries and at least one broken bone.

Montague said the driver is a Chinese national who was in Vancouver last year to attend his citizenship ceremony, which he failed to make.

Wang left Canada after the incident, but when he returned he was arrested and has been ordered to surrender his passport.