Two people lucky to be alive after car hits sand dune and rolls

A damaged Toyota Highlander on Paraparaumu Beach. Photo / Wellington District Police Facebook

Two people are lucky to be alive after a Toyota Highlander they were in crashed and rolled along part of the Paraparaumu Beach beachline.

Police and ambulance were called to the scene at about 4.30pm on Monday.

"The driver had been driving along the beach and subsequently rolled several times about 100 metres north of the Kapiti Boating Club," police said.

"A driver and one passenger had minor cuts and bruises.

"The driver was processed for excess breath alcohol and was over the limit.

"Enquiries are ongoing."

A woman who witnessed the crash, Debra Sapphire, was walking her dog when she noticed a car with its headlights blazing and "speeding along, there was no question whatsover".

Photo / Wellington District Police Facebook

"Then it hit a sand dune and went over and over.

"I started to run and thought 'oh no it's the worse case'.

"At the same time there was a tractor pulling a boat from the sea.

"The tractor driver went there [to the accident scene] straight away."

Debra said summer was coming and "I dread walking on the beach with drivers speeding and doing spins".

"So unfair for us all."

Earlier this year Kapiti Coast District Council put new signs up at Paraparaumu Beach, by the Kapiti Boating Club, in an effort to stop people driving in prohibited zones along the beachline.

The signs, which said people should avoid driving along the beach unless launching or retrieving a boat, followed an increase in complaints about people driving in prohibited areas and putting the safety of other beach users at risk.