Fate of mum found drunk on school run in CYF's hands, say police

Snr Sgt Greg Brown (left) said police had spoken to all relevant witnesses. Photo / Duncan Brown

Police have asked welfare staff to look into the case of a mother who was allegedly drunk when she dropped her child at school.

An unrestrained toddler was said to also be in the Hastings woman's car at the time. Hawkes Bay Senior Sergeant Greg Brown said police were first alerted to the woman when she drove erratically along Wall Rd in Hastings about 9am on Wednesday. A concerned driver followed the woman to the primary school, where she struck a parked car while trying to do a u-turn.

Mr Brown said it would be up to Child, Youth and Family to decide what course of action to take.

Police were unsure if the mother was drunk from the night before or had been drinking that morning, Mr Brown said.

"She wasn't particularly co-operative so we have to go with what's in front of us," he said. "Given her state you would expect it would be a reasonably fresh binge session, but who knows."

The woman was taken to the Hastings Police Station, where she was processed for drink-driving. She will appear in Hastings District Court on Wednesday, charged with dangerous driving and refusing to give a blood sample. The school-aged child went to school as normal on Wednesday, while the pre-schooler was taken to a family friend's house.

"Police had to go back to the station and get a car seat because the toddler was completely unrestrained," Mr Brown said. "Luckily, there was a family friend who lived nearby [to] look after the toddler."

Mr Brown said police had spoken to all relevant witnesses and had sufficient evidence to take the matter to court. There would be no further charges at this stage.

Senior Constable Andy Clinton said the incident, which had left officers "dumbfounded and angry", was very disturbing in light of publicity for Road Safety Week this week.

Checkpoints had been set up at schools and arterial routes, checking on seatbelt wearing, cellphone use and enforcing the 20km/h speed limit past stationary school buses.