A man has appeared in court in relation to a crash in Cambridge in which a ute plunged into the Waikato River last year, fatally injuring a Tauranga woman.

Derek Ivan Keesing, 61, of Tirau, appeared in the Hamilton District Court on Friday, charged with driving carelessly at the intersection of Tirau Road, Achilles Avenue and Shakespeare Street, and thereby caused the death of Susan Donna Ramsay, 60, on August 19 last year.

Susan died in Waikato Hospital from injuries she received in the crash, says police.

The ute Susan and Keesing were in plunged 10 metres into the river near Cambridge.

Bystanders who witnessed the crash rushed to the scene to help.

During his court appearance, Keesing was allowed to remain seated as he was on crutches.

He has been remanded on bail and without plea to next appear on March 9.

Police commended the efforts of rescuers to pull Keesing and Ramsay from the vehicle.

-Additional reporting by Stuff.co.nz/Mike Mather.