One dead after driver flees checkpoint
BY PENNY WARDLE AND BLAIR ENSOR
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One person is dead after a woman fled a police checkpoint in central Blenheim last night and smashed into another car, killing its driver.
Sergeant Michael Irving of the Blenheim police said the young female driver of a green Toyota sedan was breath-tested at a checkpoint on Alfred Street outside Blenheim School. When alcohol was detected she was asked to pull over but instead accelerated away into Hutcheson Street.
A police statement released this morning said police from the checkpoint attempted to follow the Toyota which went out of sight then crashed into a white Nissan as it negotiated the Hutcheson St Nelson St roundabout, 400 metres from the checkpoint. They went to the aid of the middle-aged driver of the Nissan but she had suffered fatal injuries.
The 20-year-old driver of the Toyota was taken by ambulance to hospital with minor chest injuries and discharged.
No one else was in either vehicle.
The incident occurred at about 9.45pm.
A witness to the accident said the driver of the Toyota was travelling at more than 60km/hour.
Police have spoken to a number of people in the area at the time and ask that anyone with information about the crash contact the Blenheim police station.
The serious crash investigation unit was at the scene this morning.
- The Marlborough Express
