Hit-and-run accused had bail on drink-driving count

The man arrested following a hit and run in Mangere which left a teenager in intensive care was allegedly drink-driving, and was already facing a charge of drink-driving.

Andrew Dowling, 35, appeared in the Manukau District Court yesterday, charged with driving under the influence of alcohol causing injury, dangerous driving causing injury, aggravated careless driving causing injury, driving while disqualified and failing to stop and ascertain injury.

The painter was allegedly driving the van which hit Lincoln Hapeta while he was standing outside a relative's Mangere address on Friday night.

The 16-year-old suffered a torn liver and massive internal bleeding. The Rotorua High School student, who was in Auckland visiting family, was standing on the roadside waiting to be picked up when he was hit by the van.

The driver did not stop but on Monday a passenger who was in the van called police.

Family members said yesterday the teenager was back in Middlemore Hospital's intensive care unit as a precaution because he was having difficulty breathing.

Dowling, also known as Andrew Corr, stood with his head bowed, in the dock of the Manukau District Court yesterday.

Judge David Harvey said Dowling had previous convictions, and was due to face a drink-driving charge.

He said police alleged that Dowling gave a breath alcohol reading of 1100mcg of alcohol per litre of breath when he was stopped on October 12 last year.

"So it's essentially allegations of offending while on bail," Judge Harvey said.

Dowling was remanded in custody to reappear in the Manukau District Court today, to make an application for bail.