A Pakistani man from Canberra has been charged with murder and predatory driving following a fatal crash on the Monaro Highway in southern New South Wales that claimed the life of a woman from the Bega Valley.

Police allege that 40-year-old Waqas Haider left the crash site before officers arrived.

Emergency services were called to the highway near Colinton, south of Michelago, New South Wales, shortly after midnight on 1 March after reports of a head-on collision between two vehicles.

A 36-year-old woman, later identified as Samantha Holmes from Candelo, died at the scene.

It is reported Haider was located more than 10 hours later in a nearby paddock, about 500 metres from the scene, with a suspected broken ankle.

He was treated by paramedics before being taken under police guard to Canberra Hospital.

Prosecutor Marina Lucero told the court that Hiader had been diagnosed with an unspecified mental health disorder.

Following an investigation by officers from the Monaro Police District, Haider was extradited from the ACT to New South Wales on 24 March and taken to Queanbeyan Police Station, where he was charged with multiple offences.

The charges include murder, two counts of predatory driving, two counts of dangerous driving, dangerous driving occasioning death, and failing to stop and assist after a fatal crash.

Police had initially been examining whether the collision was  an “intentional act”.

Haider appeared in court in New South Wales, where he did not apply for bail. Bail was formally refused and he remains in custody. He is due to face court again in June as investigations continue.

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