An out-of-control car went within metres of crashing into one of Maraenui's oldest homes late on Friday night.
The just-sold house on the corner of Geddis Ave and Lister Cr was built in 1936 and has been home for the last six years to Ian Matehe and Debbie Stubbs, who move out in mid-October after buying a new home.
Both were awoken just before midnight when a car demolished the corrugated iron fence fronting Geddis Ave outside, a mobile barbecue stand, and a metal street-lamp and post, and also hitting a tree.
Skid marks stretching as far as 30 metres showed the car, believed to have had just one occupant – a man who appeared unconscious when he was rescued from the wreckage by members of the public - had been heading west and veered across the road, just before midnight.
A man, thought to be aged in the 20s, was taken by St John Ambulance to Hawke's Bay Hospital in Hastings and was on Sunday reported to be in a stable condition.