Bay of Plenty police have charged a female driver, who crashed her four wheel drive, injuring her five child passengers.

The woman was driving on State Highway 2 to Whakatane in July, when her vehicle struck a barrier, flipped twice, and ploughed through a fence.

All five children, including a four month old baby, were flung from the vehicle.

Witnesses say the bodies strewn throughout the paddock, looked like dead animals.

An 11 year old girl was in a coma for seven days, and underwent surgery to release pressure on her brain.

The 35 year old driver, who is the mother and aunty of the children, is facing numerous charges.

They include three counts of careless driving causing injury, and five of criminal nuisance for failing to ensure the children were correctly restrained.

The woman has earlier told media that all her passengers were wearing seatbelts.