Car crashes through fence

A Southland mum is calling for people to drive to the conditions after a vehicle almost crashed into her son’s bedroom.

Meanwhile, police say they are yet to speak with the driver of the car, and are looking for him.

Kelly Gladwin, who has lived in her Woodlands home for two years, said she awoke on Thursday morning to find a car had crashed through a concrete fence and come to rest on her driveway, metres from her 3-year-old son’s bedroom.

Judging by tyre marks, the car had failed to take the bend of State Highway 1 through the town while travelling towards Invercargill, she said.

The car had narrowly missed hitting the town’s monument, before crashing through the fence. ’’It’s five metres from my son’s room.’’

She said she remembered hearing a commotion, before someone knocked on her door about 1.30am.

Gladwin, who lives alone, said she didn’t feel comfortable getting up to answer the knock, and so went back to sleep. She had been told police were attended the scene about 5am, she said.

A police media spokeswoman said police were alerted to the crash at 4.40am.

‘‘The driver of the vehicle left the scene before police attended and they are still looking to locate him.

‘‘Enquiries are ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the crash, and for that reason we can’t comment on the cause at this stage,’’ the spokeswoman said.

Gladwin said the driver of the car, who was from Auckland, and his passenger came back to look at the car, and both were okay, Gladwin said.

‘‘He said he hit ice, but it was drizzling all night.’’

‘‘It’s a bad stretch of road, but people need to remember to drive to the conditions.’’

While police could not yet say whether the weather had contributed to the crash, the spokeswoman said police encouraged all drivers to be wary on Southland roads during winter.

‘‘Southland is experiencing typical winter driving conditions ... remember to drive to the conditions and keep your speed down, as you never know when you may hit ice and potentially lose control of your vehicle.

‘‘Checking the road conditions before you get in your vehicle. If the conditions are hazardous, please assess whether you need to travel at all.

‘‘Also, please dress warmly and keep a survival kit in your vehicle in case you get stuck.’’