Drink crash teen’s ‘dumb decision’
Drunk and driving dangerously, a teenager lost control of his car and smashed into the side of a bakery, narrowly missing the man working inside.
About 6.20am on June 18, Kadem Karo Hare-Leathers, 17, was driving home along New Plymouth’s Tukapa St after a night out drinking.
At the same time, Westown Bakery manager Steven Lorth was getting ready to open the business for another day’s trading.
As Lorth stood by the deep fryer, he heard a loud bang outside and then the rumbling of a car engine. Alarmed, he jumped out of the way seconds before HareLeathers’ Honda car burst through the side wall. The impact pushed the freezer halfway across the room and caused the oil in the deep fryer to go flying.
Lorth also suffered cuts to his right leg.
Detective Sergeant Dave MacKenzie told the New Plymouth District Court how the teen failed to negotiate a roundabout and took out a garden wall and street sign before hitting a parked car and then the building.
He said when police arrived, they smelt alcohol on HareLeathers. When breath-tested, the teen blew 302 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath. The legal driving limit for a driver under 20 years old is zero.
‘‘In explanation the defendant stated that ‘I don’t know what happened, I was just driving home’,’’ MacKenzie said.
On Wednesday, Hare-Leathers pleaded guilty to charges of drink driving and driving in a dangerous manner.
Lawyer Josie Mooney said it was the first time he had ever appeared in court.
‘‘This has obviously been quite an awakening for him,’’ she said.
While no reparation was sought by police, the court heard how the New Plymouth District Council may pursue him for costs related to the damage he caused to the streetscape outside the bakery. Damage to the building was covered by insurance.
Community magistrate Lesley Jensen was blunt in her assessment of Hare-Leathers’ behaviour.
‘‘You are a young man who made a really dumb decision,’’ she said.
After being convicted, HareLeathers was fined $570, along with court costs, and was disqualified from driving for six months.