Monster truck hearse for beloved grandma

Mourners at Penelope Rae Phillips funeral included Peter and Sandy Stubbs, and Ms Phillips' partner, Neil Jorgensen (right, in the chequered jacket). Photos / Supplied, Tim Cuff

She arrived at her funeral the way she would have arrived at most other big occasions - in her monster truck.

Family and friends of Penelope Rae Phillips, who died last Friday after she was hit by a driver who allegedly took off from a police checkpoint in Blenheim, celebrated the 51-year-old's life at her funeral yesterday.

The coffin of the grandmother of 11 was carried on the back of her and partner Neil Jorgensen's monster truck "Big Bruva", which they built from scratch last year.

The procession, through about 4km of central Blenheim streets, included a stop at the roundabout where Ms Phillips died to "do a few revs", and ended at the Waterlea Racecourse north of the town for the service.

Mr Jorgensen said he and one of Ms Phillips' four sons, Bradley Phillips, took turns at driving Big Bruva.

Hundreds of people turned out for the ceremony and dozens shared memories of the grandmother with the congregation.

"Penney" would have been happy with the way she was sent off, Mr Jorgensen said. "We did our best to honour [her] memory, her hopes and wishes."

Peter and Sandy Stubbs, the parents of Frances Stubbs, the driver of the other car in the accident, were also at the service.

Earlier this week, Mr Stubbs, a lawyer, said his daughter had had a "brain explosion" after allegedly taking off from the police checkpoint.

He said she had drunk about four vodka energy drinks over two hours before she left their family home to go to a party about 5km north of Blenheim.

Police have said the inquiry is complex and it may be weeks before they decide whether to charge her.

Ms Phillips became interested in monster trucks several years ago when she and Mr Jorgensen built a yellow truck, Lil Toe, from an abandoned wreck.

She took children for rides in the trucks at events and had hoped to start raising money for a helicopter to take sick youngsters from the South Island to the Starship children's hospital in Auckland.

The idea came after her grandson, Hayden, 7, was treated at Starship after he was injured in a car crash near Nelson last year.