Elderly couple shaken after car smashes through bedroom, kills driver

The wheel of a car which has punched through a bedroom wall of a Tauranga house can be seen as a contractor works to asses the scene. Photo/Victor Hoonhout

An elderly couple have described the terrifying moment a car wheel punched through the bedroom wall of their Tauranga home.

David and Sylvia Lawrence said the impact of the crash was such that Mrs Lawrence dived for cover, thinking it was an earthquake.

"I didn't register what was happening," she said.

"I was so shaken. I just didn't realise what was going on."

Unbeknown to them, a ute had left Otumoetai Rd near Glenn Terrace and smashed through a brick wall on a neighbouring property and into Mrs Lawrence's blue Mazda, spinning it around and punching it into the house.

The impact was such, the ute left the ground and came to a stop with its wheels leaving black tyre marks on the gutters of the house.

The driver of the ute was killed in the Otumoetai Rd crash, which happened about 1am, yesterday. A 17-year-old passenger suffered serious injuries.

Mrs Lawrence said there was a knock at their front door soon after the crash

The driver of a ute, which crashed through a Tauranga property early this morning and punched through the front wall of this house, was killed in the crash. Photo/Victor Hoonhout

"It was the owner of the ute, in his underwear. He wanted to use the phone and check on us," she said.

Mrs Lawrence said the owner of the ute told them he was woken up by someone attempting to steal his vehicle. She said the man hopped in another car to follow his ute shortly before the crash happened.

Mrs Lawrence said she was still shaken this morning and would be going to the doctor for a check up later today.

The scene this morning. Bay of Plenty Times Photograph by John Borren

The couple had since moved beds and furniture to help cover the gaping hole in the bedroom and say their entire bathroom has also been shunted by the impact of the crash.

The exterior of the house after the crash. Bay of Plenty Times Photograph by John Borren

Mr Lawrence said they felt incredibly lucky but their thoughts were with the family of the person who died.

"I think of his parents this morning, what they'll be waking up to ... they will be grieving," Mr Lawrence said.

The couple have not slept since the crash and were now working out repairs to the house and car.

Police today appealed for information from witnesses to the crash