Manslaughter charge over roadside picnic death

The photo of Shelagh Cotter as a young woman which was on the order of service for her funeral. Photo / Supplied

A man has been charged with manslaughter over the death of a woman hit by a car while picnicking with a friend on the roadside north of Wellington last month.

Shelagh Cotter, 69, died in hospital after the October 30 crash which flung her 10m over a fence.

She had been sitting in the driver's seat of her car, parked on a grass verge on Old Hautere Road, near Te Horo, 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.

The pair had been on a garden tour.

Police said a 37-year-old Upper Hutt man was this morning arrested and charged with Mrs Cotter's manslaughter and driving with excess breath/blood alcohol causing death.

He will appear in Levin District Court this morning.

- NZHERALD STAFF