Hitchhiker sought in relation to crash

Site of the crash. Photo / Supplied

Police are searching for a hitchhiker who may be an important witness to a drink-driving crash which killed 69-year-old Shelagh Cotter on Saturday.

Mrs Cotter suffered severe head injuries and died early yesterday in Palmerston North Hospital, 15 hours after a 37-year-old Lower Hutt man smashed his Subaru Legacy into her stationary car near Otaki.

Her 62-year-old best friend Marilyn Jeffery survived the accident with serious injuries.

The driver tested at three times the legal blood alcohol limit.

Crash investigators are now seeking a hitchhiker who they believe got a lift from the driver at about 9.30am on Saturday.

Detective Sergeant Sarn Paroli said the man could be a key witness as they seek to lay further charges.

"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. We are extremely keen to speak to that hitchhiker and would ask them to contact us as soon as possible."

No description of the hitchhiker is available at this time.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Levin Police on 06 366 0500.

Mrs Cotter, from Te Horo, near Otaki, was thrown 10m over a fence from the driver's seat, where she had been sitting with her legs out the door enjoying a cuppa and muffins.

The accused drink-driver is due to appear in court this month.

He is already facing drink-driving charges, but more serious charges are likely.

Mrs Cotter had got up early on Saturday morning to bake the muffins as a snack to enjoy on a garden tour with friend and neighbour Marilyn Jeffery.

After a morning of garden visits, Mrs Cotter parked her new car, a large Honda saloon, on a grass verge on Old Hautere Rd, behind others on the tour.

Four of the tour's 13 gardens were along the quiet, country road.

Mrs Jeffery sat on the grass by Mrs Cotter's car, about to have her coffee, when she heard a car blasting around the corner.

She stood up and saw the car go out of control and career towards them. It smashed into the back of Mrs Cotter's car, which rammed Mrs Jeffery into a farm fence.

She was knocked out and woke up heavily bruised, her sternum cracked and teeth chipped.

Mrs Cotter was out of sight, bleeding after being flung to the other side of the fence.

Doctors who happened to be on the tour gave her emergency treatment.

Mrs Cotter's car was demolished. The driver was nearby, but Mrs Jeffery said he ignored her as she called out for help. He tested three times over the legal drink-drive limit.

The women were taken to Palmerston North Hospital. The garden tour continued but its organiser said people soon became aware of the "terrible" incident. Participants said skid marks on the road stretched more than 100m.

Mrs Jeffery's husband, Don, had been in Te Horo and heard ambulances speed past. But it did not occur to him his wife could have been involved until he got home a couple of hours later and checked his messages.

"I was just in disbelief. I didn't think those things could happen to us," Mr Jeffery said.

He rang Mrs Cotter's husband, David, who had not heard about the crash.

They drove to the scene and then to the hospital.

Mrs Jeffery's son in Hamilton, her children in Lower Hutt and Mrs Cotter's daughter in Wellington gathered to support their families.

Mr Cotter was devastated by his wife's death, enough to make his daughter worry about his wellbeing.

"We're all just too cut up," said Mr Cotter, who did not want to comment further.

Mrs Jeffery, meanwhile, has come home from hospital battered but able to get around. "She's very, very tired and very, very bruised," Mr Jeffery said.

His family were angry at the driver who had killed their dearly loved neighbour.

"I just can't believe someone could do that - drive so carelessly. It was such a peaceful area. They were having a beautiful day. He destroyed that," Mr Jeffery said.

"In the coming days, we will follow it up through the courts to make sure justice is done."

He said he wanted to keep pushing the message that drink-driving could cause devastation.