With her gaze fixed on her rear-view mirror watching for police, Frances Carol Stubbs glanced at the road in front of her to see a white Nissan Cefiro coming from her left.
The 20-year-old hit the brakes of the Toyota Corolla she was driving, but it was too late.
The impact propelled the Cefiro across the traffic island killing 51-year-old Penelope (Penney) Phillips. Stubbs' car finally stopped pushed up against a Give Way sign.
Stubbs admitted driving with excess blood alcohol causing death when she appeared in Blenheim District Court yesterday.
She stood in the dock as police prosecutor Sergeant Steve Frost read a summary of facts recounting what happened in the fatal crash on March 19.
Stubbs told police she had drunk four RTDs (ready-to-drink mixed alcohol) at her house before a party, believing someone would pick up her up, Mr Frost said.
When that plan fell through, she decided to drive to the party herself.
About 9.40pm, Stubbs came to a police alcohol checkpoint on Seymour St and Alfred St and failed the general result, Mr Frost said.
Stubbs later told police she had been scared about the consequences of driving over the legal alcohol limit. She fled at speeds of up to 75kmh in the 50kmh zone, Mr Frost said.
A police constable followed her along Alfred St, turning left at a roundabout onto Hutcheson St, only to see Stubbs' tail lights disappearing over the Taylor River bridge.
Stubbs came to the Nelson St-Hutcheson St roundabout at the same time as Mrs Phillips. She slammed on the brakes, but it was too late and she hit the driver's side door of Mrs Phillips' car.
She told police she had been preoccupied looking in her rear vision mirror to see if police were following her.
At Wairau Hospital, Stubbs was treated for minor injuries and was found to have 120 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 80mg.
Stubbs was remanded at large and will reappear for sentencing on August 17. Reparation of $2000 is sought.
Police withdrew a charge of shoplifting against Stubbs.
By SIMON WONG - The Marlborough Express
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