Double-fatal after chase
The driver who crashed after evading police at high speed – killing himself and a passenger – had a criminal record.
Dennis Tunnicliffe died early yesterday when the car he had been driving at more than twice the speed limit smashed into a power pole. The noise of the skidding and the final fatal impact at 2.30am woke neighbours at the corner of Breezes Rd and Cuthberts Rd in Aranui, Christchurch. The sole survivor yelled at police to help his pregnant partner, but it was too late. She has not been named.
However, a Givealittle page created for the driver identified him as Dennis Tunnicliffe. The page, created by a relative of Tunnicliffe’s, explained he had died in a car crash. ‘‘The money is to help cover funeral cost and this hard time for my family. Any little bit will help, rest easy big bro.’’
Tunnicliffe was jailed for seven months in 2013 after a sixday joyriding spree around Christchurch in other people’s cars. Tunnicliffe, then 18, and an associate took nine vehicles, almost all Subarus, over six days in 2012, attempted to take another and unlawfully interfered with another car.
Tunnicliffe admitted all the charges as well as a breach of bail. He had previous convictions for receiving, theft, burglary, possession of a firearm and being an unlicensed driver.
Some of the offending took place while Tunnicliffe was doing a sentence of community work.
In jailing him Judge Noel Walsh told the then unemployed youth: ‘‘Your future is entirely in your hands.’’
Tunnicliffe wrote to the judge, saying he had learnt his lesson. He wrote: ‘‘I never thought I would come to jail. I apologise to the people whose cars I damaged.
If I get home, I’ll be good, Your Honour. I want a chance to prove myself.’’
Tragically, the lives of Tunnicliffe and a passenger in his car have been cut short. The sole survivor was taken to Christchurch Hospital with moderate injuries.
Canterbury Metro Superintendent Lane Todd said police had tried to stop the car on Breezes Rd because the driver was speeding, but also for reasons he would not detail. The Press understands Tunnicliffe was speeding at more than 100kmh in the 50kmh zone. Police followed the car for less than a minute but
abandoned the chase because of the dangerous driving.
Less than a minute later, police found the car crashed into a power pole.
Todd said it was ‘‘extremely surprising someone survived’’ the ‘‘high-impact’’ crash.
Michelle Mazey was woken by an ‘‘almighty bang and then a blast’’. She went outside and heard a man yelling at police. ‘‘He yelled out ‘get her out, my partner’s in the car I think she’s knocked out and she’s pregnant’.’’
Another resident said she was woken by the sound of a skid. A few months ago there had been a less serious crash close to the same spot, she said.
Michael Pierce said it was the second time the power pole had been crashed into during the five years he had been living there.
Todd said it was a tragic outcome. ‘‘Police encourage any driver who is signalled to stop by police to do just that. It is not worth putting your life, your passenger’s life, or anyone else’s life at risk,’’ he said.
He said no police officer came to work to be involved in a situation where ‘‘potentially innocent people lose their lives’’.
An investigation into the crash has started and the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) has been notified.
It is less than three weeks since the last fatal crash involving a police pursuit in Christchurch.
On November 16, Alexia Chrissy-Marie Noble-Hazelwood died when a car, which minutes earlier evaded police, ploughed through a fence and smashed into a tree and building at the entrance to Christchurch East School on Gloucester St about 11.15pm. Three other passengers were injured.
Darrin Ray Stewart, 19, has been charged with manslaughter and other charges.