‘Saddest day’ when Deidre didn’t come home

A man whose wife and friend were killed by a fleeing driver nine years ago says he has ‘‘full confidence’’ in police, and he supports pursuits.

On Tuesday, Kenneth McCaul died after a 17-year-old on the run from police ran a red light and T-boned his car in Christchurch.

McCaul, who had a green light and was wearing a seatbelt, suffered critical injuries and died in hospital a short time later.

For Meynell Jordan, the crash was a sombre reminder of his wife’s death at the hands of then22-year-old Phillip Bruce Ray Bannan on August 26, 2010.

Bannan was disqualified from driving, had no licence or warrant, had twice the legal bloodalcohol limit and was being pursued by police when he jumped two red lights on Fitzgerald Ave and crashed into a Daihatsu, which was thrown off the road and spun around before landing.

Jordan’s wife of 47 years, Deidre Jordan, died on the way to the hospital. Her friend, Norman Fitt, died at the scene. ‘‘That was the saddest day of my life,’’ Jordan recalled nine years on.

Bannan was sentenced to nine years’ jail after pleading guilty to two charges of manslaughter.

Jordan said he was saddened to hear of McCaul’s death.

‘‘It’s just a shame that another innocent person has died.’’

However, he had ‘‘full confidence’’ in police.

‘‘They’ve got to make a decision on the spur of the moment as to whether they’re going to pursue somebody or not. If they proceed with it and everything goes well, it’s OK, and if it goes wrong, they get the blame for it.’’

He implored drivers to pull over immediately.

‘‘There appears to be a lack of respect for police, particularly with younger drivers who don’t seem to care about putting other people’s lives at risk.’’

The 17-year-old fleeing driver was expected to be released from hospital yesterday, but no charges have yet been laid.

The four passengers, all aged in their teens, remain in a moderate condition in Christchurch Hospital.

Police said the officers involved were receiving support.