Drink-driver hits two cars, damages three

A Taranaki woman is facing a $7000 bill after she drove drunk and crashed into two parked cars, damaging three.

Brooke Marion Mateara was driving along Devon St West in New Plymouth about 10pm on October 15 when she made a right turn into Belt Rd.

The 30-year-old didn’t slow down as she took the corner and smashed into the side of a car parked on the roadside, the New Plymouth District Court was told yesterday.

But that didn’t deter Mateara from her journey as she continued along Belt Rd before turning right into Gaine St, a police summary of facts stated. After entering the street on the wrong side of the road, she drove headon into a second parked vehicle before coming to a stop in the middle of the road. The impact shunted the parked vehicle backwards into a third car, causing damage to that one also. No-one was injured. Shortly after, police located Mateara still at the scene and she underwent an evidential breath test. The test revealed an alcohol reading of 747 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath. This was almost three times the legal adult limit of 250mcgs.

Mateara was charged with drink-driving to which she pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing.

Yesterday, the burning issue was the thousands of dollars in reparation Mateara was faced with paying through causing damage to the vehicles.

Police prosecutor Detective Sergeant Heath Karlson said reparation of $4000 was sought for one victim and $2800 for another.

Duty solicitor Josie Mooney said Mateara was going through a civil process in respect to the compensation for the third vehicle, which meant she could only afford to make weekly payments at a rate of $5 for the reparation sought on the other two.

‘‘Her financial position is particularly dire,’’ Mooney said.

Community Magistrate Leslie Jensen said the amount sought was substantial and considering Mateara was suffering financial hardship she was hesitant in ordering it.

According to the Sentencing Act if an offender has insufficient means to pay the total value of the loss, damage, or harm, the court may sentence the offender to make reparation for any amount of a lesser value or to pay by instalments, or both.

Jensen ordered a reparation report to assess Mateara’s ability to pay.

Mateara will return to court on March 4 for sentencing on the matter.