Drink-drive woman drove through fence, hit house

An 18-year-old woman will be almost $5000 out of pocket after driving her car through a fence and bouncing it off a house.

Alecia Maraea Nikora, 18, was driving along Murdoch Rd in Hastings about 2.30am on July 3 when she lost control of her vehicle, crashing through two properties and causing extensive damage to fences and a house.

She eventually stopped her car in nearby Gascoigne St, and a subsequent breath alcohol test gave a reading of 567 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath.

Nikora pleaded guilty in Hastings District Court yesterday to charges of careless driving and drink driving.

Counsel Eric Forster said having to pay reparations would be a substantial penalty for Nikora, who had also lost her $1500 car.

Judge Richard Watson said Nikora's crash could have been much worse.

"I suspect we should all be very grateful that there was no other vehicle on the road coming in the other direction when you lost it," he said.

Nikora was ordered to pay $4210.82 reparations on the careless driving charge, and was fined $600. She was also ordered to pay court costs of $130 on the drink-driving charge and disqualified for nine months.

- HAWKE'S BAY TODAY