‘Whole house shook’
Woman tells of terror as car smashes into her mum’s bathroom
Awoman has described the terrifying moment a car crashed into her mother’s home in Tauranga, destroying an en suite shower. Carol Stirling and her 74-year-old mum were sitting inside the Lakes Boulevard home in Pyes Pa about 4.30pm on Wednesday when they heard a loud noise approaching.
“You could hear the car coming then a bang and the whole house shook. It was actually quite terrifying. The noise was a like a shriek.
“We jumped up, rushed outside, couldn’t see anything at the front of the house but went around the side and saw the car there and rang 111.”
Police, ambulance and firefighters were sent to the scene and a woman was treated for minor injuries.
Stirling said it was unbelievable no one was seriously hurt. “It’s actually really scary . . . there are so many people that walk on the pavement around here, the bus stop is right there . . . she could’ve killed people.”
The car damaged part of the property’s fence and flung a bollard about 10m before crashing into the en suite.
“The shower is completely written off. The whole bathroom will probably have to be replaced. The toilet is only a few feet away and she could’ve easily been in the bathroom at the time,” said Stirling.
“She’s not very happy . . . she went and got a Lotto ticket last night!”
Stirling said she was told by builders the bathroom probably could not be repaired until the middle of next month.
“For [my mother’s] age it’s just a big inconvenience not being able to have her bathroom in use.”
Police said a person is being charged with careless driving and driving with excess breath-alcohol.