'Fortunate' no-one hurt as driver shunts ute into Dunedin home

Some Elgin Rd residents got a surprise visit when a drunk Mosgiel women hit a ute, which smashed a hole in their wall, in February. Photo / Otago Daily Times

By Robb Kidd

A drunk woman's decision to drive to Dunedin after a boozy night out in February resulted in her wiping out a carport and another vehicle, which ploughed into a lounge.

"Fortunately, nobody was injured or killed," Judge Dominic Flatley said.

"On this occasion, people could have been injured inside their home, which is slightly unusual."

Samantha Renee Georgina Brookes, 21, appeared in the Dunedin District Court yesterday having pleaded guilty to drink-driving and dangerous driving.

Everything had initially gone to plan on February 11.

Brookes had been out with friends and a sober driver had dropped her off at home in Mosgiel.

"For reasons that escape you and everybody else, you got in your car and drove towards Dunedin," the judge said.

Brookes' counsel, Noel Rayner, said his client had no memory of the "spectacular" end to the evening and was therefore unable to enlighten anyone on why she ended up behind the wheel.

The defendant made it as far as Elgin Rd, where she crossed the centre line and accelerated over the 50km/h limit.

She lost control when she failed to negotiate a left-hand bend, mounted the kerb and ended up careering down a driveway.

Unable to stop, she hit a pillar supporting a carport and a ute within it, forcing it into the lounge of the house beside.

James Harrex was just about to go to sleep on the couch when suddenly there was a vehicle in the room with him.

The force of the impact threw him backwards, he told the Otago Daily Times after the incident.

Despite the unexpected ordeal, he and resident Jaryd Grimwood helped Brookes and called an ambulance.

"She ended up in hospital and when she did come to, she could recall nothing," Rayner said.

A sample of Brookes' blood gave a reading of 241mg.

The legal limit is 50mg.

"You were well and truly intoxicated," Judge Flatley said.

"What is of concern is you had complete memory loss in relation to this offending."

While the offending could have been tragic, he noted Brookes had attended a restorative justice conference and paid for all the damage.

"You are ashamed of your offending and your memory loss and I can understand you would be," the judge said.

A drug and alcohol assessment found Brookes may have a genetic predisposition to alcohol issues and Rayner said she had not drunk since the incident.

Judge Flatley sentenced her to 200 hours' community work and 12 months' supervision, and disqualified her from driving for 10 months.

He declined the Otago Daily Times' application to photograph the defendant after reading a psychiatric report.