-
The scene of the accident in Blenheim - Source: ONE News -
Related
The son of a mother-of-five killed by a woman fleeing a police checkpoint has called on the government to take a much tougher stance on drink-drivers.
The New Zealand Herald says Penelope Rae Phillips, 52, was the woman who died in Blenheim on Friday night after a 20-year-old woman smashed into her car.
Her eldest son, Bradley Phillips, says he and his siblings are devastated by the loss of their mother, who also has 10 grandchildren.
"She'd just dropped her friend off at home... then she was coming home herself and some immature little female takes her life."
He told the newspaper he is frustrated by the government's eagerness to crush boy racers' vehicles, while letting drink-drivers keep theirs.
Phillips says Transport Minister Steven Joyce needs to come down harder on drink-drivers. He believes police should be able to remove keys from vehicles as soon as the driver fails a breath test.
Police stopped the 20-year-old local woman at a police checkpoint 400 metres away from the crash scene. They say she blew a positive result then sped away.
While officers scrambled to pursue her, the woman allegedly struck the white Nissan Phillips was driving. She died at the scene.
A statement from Joyce's office says the government is preparing to release new drink-driving laws.
Charges have not yet been laid against the driver, but Tasman police district commander Gary Knowles says his officers are working on a criminal investigation.
