A drunken Thomas George Winitana drove on after being involved in a collision that left his backseat passenger with serious head and neck injuries at the Otane-State Highway 2 intersection last Friday.
Yesterday, the 55-year-old Napier man stood in the dock at the Hastings District Court and pleaded guilty to driving away from the scene of the accident as well as driving while disqualified and drink driving causing injury. He was found to have a breath alcohol level of 831mics. The legal limit is 400mics.
Police prosecutor Dean Goodall said at 2.30pm last Friday Winitana was leaving Otane and had been at the Otane intersection.
He said a woman travelling south saw Winitana's vehicle pull into her path.
Mr Goodall said about 30 seconds after the accident Winitana had driven off without speaking to the two occupants in the other car, who received minor injuries. Winitana had three passengers in his car.
"The back seat passenger (of his car) had serious neck and head injuries," he said.
Police caught up with Winitana about 6km north of the accident. Two passengers in his car had to be transported to hospital.
A 49-year-old woman who suffered neck and head injuries was transported to Christchurch Hospital and remains in intensive care.
Winitana was convicted on the charges and remanded in custody for sentencing on June 14. Judge Tony Adeane said Winitana did not comprehend the seriousness of the offences.
Drunk took off after crash
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