Mum killed by 8am drink-driver says witness

Katherine Kennedy, with her son Matthew, died 22 years after her mother was killed in a crash her family believe was caused by a drunk driver. Photo / Supplied

A mother has been killed by a driver who witnesses said was extremely drunk at 8am.

Katherine Fiona Kennedy, known as "Rin", died when her Volkswagen Polo and a Nissan Navara collided about 12km south of Kerikeri on State Highway 10.

A witness told the Northern Advocate the two men in the van appeared to be "extremely intoxicated".

Wine from the van had spilled on to the road, and the accident scene reeked of alcohol.

Ms Kennedy's brother, Chris Kennedy, 43, told the Herald last night that he had now lost his sister and his mother in suspected drink-driving crashes.

His mother, Eleanor, was killed in a head-on crash in 1988.

"Rin's mother was taken out, and 20 years later she's wiped out by these idiots," he said. "It's history repeating itself."

The crash on Wednesday happened on a gentle bend in good driving conditions, but the Nissan was a car-width across the centre line.

Blood was taken from the two men in hospital to see if they had been drinking before the crash.

Ms Kennedy, 46, had to be cut from her vehicle by firefighters, and was taken by rescue helicopter to Whangarei Hospital, where she died hours later.

The roof of the Nissan was cut open to free one of the occupants.

A 49-year-old man - thought to be the driver - had serious spine and chest injuries and was also airlifted to Whangarei.

A less-seriously injured 51-year-old man was taken by road to Bay of Islands Hospital.

Ms Kennedy, second youngest of five siblings, had recently moved back to Kerikeri, where she grew up, after having been away for about 20 years.

She worked at a local music shop but had tried a range of occupations, including designing clothes.

She had recently completed a two-year course at the Elam School of Fine Arts in Auckland, and was studying horticulture at the local polytech.

"She was very bubbly, very social, alternative," Mr Kennedy said.

"She was a bit of a leader in fashion. She'd be wearing something two years before the cool people were wearing it. She had an eye for picking things out. She looked a lot younger than she was."

Ms Kennedy's 5-year-old son Matthew had started school only weeks ago. The youngster is staying with his uncle.

Kerikeri police Sergeant Ross Laurie said blood test results might take up to a week.

In the 1988 crash, Mr Kennedy, aged in his early 20s at the time, was driving his mother and a cousin from Auckland to Kerikeri when a car crossed the centre line on State Highway 1, north of Orewa, and hit them.

A woman in that car, which was carrying three people, died instantly.

Eleanor Kennedy, who was aged in her late 50s, was taken to hospital and was in intensive care for about 10 days before she died.

Mr Kennedy and his cousin were also injured and treated in hospital.

Mr Kennedy said the family suspected the driver was drunk, but he was never prosecuted.