Teen facing charges following near-fatal joyride

Police say the 16-year-old girl almost lost her life when the driver lost control. Photo / File

A teenager is facing charges after a 16-year-old girl sitting on the car's open window with half her body outside the vehicle nearly died when the car rolled on top of her.

Police say the 19-year-old male driver was due to appear in the Hutt Valley District Court on January 19 after a car crash nearly claimed the life of the joyriding passenger.

They say at the time of the accident a vehicle carrying four 16-year-old teenage girl passengers was travelling along Plateau Road, Upper Hutt in the early hours of December 1.

One of the girls was sitting on the edge of the driver's side open window with the top half of her body outside the vehicle.

Police say she almost lost her life when the driver lost control, rolling the vehicle and crashing through a fence.

The girl hanging outside the vehicle suffered multiple serious injuries as it rolled on top of her.

Her injuries were considered life-threatening but she is now out of hospital and recovering at home.

The male driver was arrested and charged with Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol Causing Injury.

His blood alcohol level was 153 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood.

There is a zero alcohol limit for drivers under the age of 20.

Police were waiting for the final medical report on the injuries of the three other 16-year-old female passengers in the car before a decision would be made on further charges.