Driver overturns ute while over alcohol limit

A woman who tipped the ute she was driving had been drinking, despite being on a zero alcohol licence, the New Plymouth District Court heard.

Zarina Maharly Maxwell, 24, was sentenced for three driving offences, including careless driving and breaching the licence.

According to the police summary of facts, Maxwell was driving a Toyota ute on Otaraoa Rd, Waitara, about 6.30am on December 20. She and the owner of the vehicle had been drinking alcohol while parked at the end of Otaraoa Rd, and due to the intoxication level displayed by the ute owner, Maxwell decided to drive.

As she drove along the gravel section, the owner encouraged her to rapidly accelerate to skid the wheels. Maxwell lost control and collided with a roadside bank, tipping the ute on its side. The crash was discovered by a passing police patrol.

Maxwell returned to the scene and admitted drinking.

A breath test showed 398 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath. The legal adult limit is 250. However, she was on a zero alcohol licence.

In explanation, Maxwell said the vehicle owner told her to floor it even though she didn’t know what she was doing.

In court on Wednesday, Judge Gregory Hikaka said it was concerning that she would do something like that while intoxicated, without a full licence and ‘‘obviously without the skills necessary to drive like a rally driver’’.

‘‘You took the stupid advice and this is where you ended up.’’

But she was still young enough to get back on track,

Hikaka told her.

Maxwell was also sentenced on a charge of driving while disqualified in May 2020.

She received 15 months of intensive supervision and was disqualified for 28 days to complete her restricted licence test in May. An alcohol interlock device was also to be fitted to her vehicle. For careless driving she was convicted and discharged.