Whanganui Police are continuing to thoroughly investigate the circumstances which resulted in the death of a fleeing driver late yesterday (16 November 2013) evening in Gonville, Whanganui.
“The driver, a woman aged 21 years, held a learners licence and was stopped by officers earlier in the evening and processed for excess breath alcohol. She was forbidden to drive for 12 hours and her car keys were also taken off her and held at the station until a sober person could retrieve them,” says Superintendent Russell Gibson, Central District Commander.
“The woman has somehow got hold of another set of keys later in the evening and driven her vehicle.”
At 11:40pm officers observed the vehicle and believed it was being driven by an intoxicated driver. They activated their lights and sirens to the vehicle to pull over and stop however the vehicle has failed to stop for Police and increased its speed.
The sign posted speed in the area where the pursuit commenced is 50 kilometres per hour and the highest speed that was reached during the pursuit was 90 kilometres.
The driver has gone around a bend in the road where she has lost control and hit a tree. She has died instantly at the scene.
“Officers following the vehicle came across the crash once they had rounded the bend. There were seven occupants including the driver in the vehicle at the time of the crash and upon arriving at the scene officers have immediately administered first aid to the occupants.”
Six of the occupants sustained moderate to serious injuries however these are believed to be non-life threating. They were transported by ambulance to Whanganui Hospital.
The Police Serious Crash Unit and CIB are leading the investigation and are conducting a scene examination at the site of the crash.
“Over the coming days officers will speak with the six people who were in the vehicle to piece together the events leading up to this tragedy. Police are very keen to speak to anyone that witnessed the crash or has any information about this incident and we encourage them to contact us immediately,” says Superintendent Gibson.
The IPCA have been notified and the matter will be referred to them in due course.
Police will not be releasing the name of the deceased until next of kin has been informed.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Whanganui Police on (06) 349 0600. Information can also be provided anonymously to the organisation Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Note: Superintendent Gibson is not available for interviews on this matter.
Media enquiries should be referred to Communications Manager Sara Stavropoulos on 027 702 0850.