A Chinese tourist has been charged over a crash in the South Island which killed three people.

Earlier this month, three people were killed when two vehicles collided head on, on a shingle road west of Tekapo.

The 50-year-old Chinese tourist has been charged with three counts of careless driving causing death and four of careless driving causing injury.

Several rescue helicopters attended the scene after the crash.

The man will appear in the Dunedin District Court in April.

Newshub.