Call to police: 'I could have stopped crash' | Canterbury News | Local News in Canterbury

A PETROL station attendant has spoken of her guilt and devastation over failing to call 111 after smelling alcohol on a driver's breath just hours before a crash that killed two people.

Meri Robinson phoned her local police station in Akaroa on Thursday after allegedly detecting alcohol on the breath of Phillip Bannan, but the station was unattended.

She could have dialled 0 to be connected to the Christchurch central police station or dialled the 111 emergency number but decided not to.

Three hours later, Bannan allegedly sped through a red light and killed two people.

Exercise partners Norm Fitt, 73, and Dee Jordan, 67, died when Bannan smashed into their vehicle in his Ford Mondeo in central Christchurch about 8pm as he was attempting to evade police.

Ms Robinson said: ''I felt so guilty. I wish like hell I had pushed '0' and rung Christchurch. I feel that if I'd rung the police in Christchurch, I could have stopped that.

''I just want to say to them that my heart goes out to the families. Those people have lost someone so dear to them and I'm sorry it had to happen.''

Bannan has been charged with driving while disqualified and was granted bail at the district court yesterday.

He is due to appear again on September 13, when he is expected to face further serious charges.

Police confirmed they had taken a blood sample to test for alcohol. The results will be revealed in two weeks.

Ms Robinson, who has known Bannan since he was child, said he was intelligent
and a ''brilliant'' sportsman.

''With $30 (of petrol), I knew it wasn't around Akaroa he was going to venture, I knew it was Christchurch.

''He came in and he was quite sheepish. He parked the vehicle and fumbled with the petrol cap. I could smell alcohol on his breath,'' she said.

Ms Robinson said Bannan was raised by his mother, Fiona, after his parents separated and had then lived with his grandfather, Bruce Rhodes.

 

 

But she said he'd struggled to find direction.

Madeira Hotel bar manager Timothy Francis said Bannan had been banned from drinking at the pub six months ago for a period of two years because of his behaviour.

Ms Robinson hoped the accident would be a wake-up call for Bannan.

When she learned of the crash on Friday, she notified police.

''Something like this had to happen for him to open his eyes, but it's too late. He's going to be put away for a long time.''

Mr Rhodes said his grandson was was a good person.

''He's always been good to me.

''I feel sorry for the families of the two he's taken out,'' he said.

Akaroa Senior Constable Steve Ditmer said police were still trying to piece together what had happened during the hours between Bannan leaving Akaroa and the crash on

 

Fitzgerald Ave. That time had not yet been accounted for.

He said the crash had ''rocked the community''.