Hitchhiker sought after picnic crash

The Subaru crashed into the women on the grass verge. Photo / Palmerston North Rescue Helicopter

Police are searching for a hitchhiker they believe a suspected drink-driver picked up two hours before he rammed into two women on a roadside picnic, leading to the death of one.

The district's police also revealed yesterday that on the night of the fatal crash, they stopped 10 other drink-drivers, leading a senior sergeant to ask how many people need to be killed before motorists sit up and take note.

Shelagh Cotter, 69, died in hospital after the Saturday morning crash near Te Horo, north of Wellington, which flung her 10m over a fence.

She had been sitting in the driver's seat of her car, parked on a grass verge with the door open, enjoying a coffee and a muffin.

Her friend Marilyn Jeffery, 62, who was sitting on grass next to the car, suffered fractures and severe bruising.

Mrs Jeffery's husband, Don, yesterday called for tougher measures so repeat drink-drivers could not drive.

The alleged offender, a 37-year-old Lower Hutt man, was tested after the crash at three times over the limit.

Police yesterday said he had picked up a hitchhiker about 9.30am on SH1 in Paraparaumu, travelling northbound.

The fatal crash, two hours later, was just a 15-minute drive away.

No description of the hitchhiker is available and it is not known where that person was dropped off, but he or she was not in the car when it crashed.

Detective Sergeant Sarn Paroli said police were extremely keen to speak to the hitchhiker and asked the person to contact them as soon as possible.

"It is quite possible that the hitchhiker doesn't realise that the car they travelled in is the same car that was involved in this fatal crash."

Mrs Cotter's husband, David, remained distraught yesterday.

Mr Jeffery said he wanted the Government to put breath testers in cars so drink-driving would become impossible. "We need to make sure [repeat offenders] don't drive."

Senior Sergeant Nick Dobson, of the Central District Traffic Support Unit, said 10 drink-drivers had been stopped in the district on Saturday night.

"How many people need to be killed through drink-driving before these motorists sit up and take note?" he asked.