Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Fatal crash charge laid

A young woman who allegedly fled a police check point and crashed into a car in Blenheim killing a woman has been charged.

The woman has been charged with causing the death of Penelope Rae Phillips, 51, while driving with excess blood alcohol. Police said the proportion of alcohol in her blood exceeded 80 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood.

The Marlborough Express understands the woman charged is 20-year-old Frances Stubbs.

Stubbs was driving a car which collided with Ms Phillips' car on the roundabout between Nelson St and Hutcheson St in Blenheim about 9.45pm on Friday, March 19.

Detective Richard Rolton has previously said that before the crash the driver was stopped at a police checkpoint on Alfred St outside Blenheim School and breath-tested.

Police said she blew a positive result for alcohol and was asked to pull over for a second test, but she sped off. Mr Rolton said there was no police pursuit.

He said a police officer at the checkpoint got into his car to follow, but only saw her tail lights disappearing over the Taylor River Bridge as he turned into Hutcheson St.

He then saw steam rising ahead from the crash scene, Mr Rolton said.

Mr Rolton said this afternoon that a young woman had been summonsed to appear in Blenheim District Court on June 21 to face the charge.

The Marlborough Express
Last updated 17:50 01/06/2010


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