A Tauranga teenager has appeared in Tauranga District Court after he fled from police and crashed into a Gate Pa home, narrowly missing a bedroom where two young children were sleeping.
The accident happened just before 10pm on Sunday evening.
Head of road policing in the Western Bay, Senior Sergeant Ian Campion, said police attempted to pull over the vehicle after it was seen driving without headlights.
Mr Campion said the teenage driver then failed to stop for police and a pursuit began but was soon called off.
A short while later, the car careered down a driveway and crashed into the side of a Gate Pa house where a woman and her two young children lived.
"The vehicle narrowly missed a bedroom where the children were sleeping," Mr Campion said.
The driver of the car was arrested and charged with driving with excess breath alcohol, failing to stop for police and reckless driving.
An 18-year-old appeared in Tauranga District Court this morning and was remanded on bail.
He is due to reappear on November 2.