LAWRENCE GULLERY and KATE NEWTON
A Waimarama woman is in hospital after the car she was driving smashed into trees on Waimarama Road near Craggy Range on New Year's Eve.
Earlier on that night, at Waimarama, police had taken vehicle keys from the woman because they were concerned about her ability to drive.
Hastings police senior sergeant Stuart Fleming said the woman took off in another vehicle and started making her way to Hastings when the accident occurred.
Police and emergency services at the scene reported the 31-year-old Napier woman was lucky to survive as the vehicle was severely damaged.
The woman was airlifted to the Hawke's Bay Regional Hospital and was seriously ill but stable in intensive care. Mr Fleming said police were investigating the crash this week and charges were likely when it was completed.
At Waimarama, the town survived its first liquor ban and police are praising the efforts of visitors and local people who kept the evening safe.
Police constable Alan Daly said there was only one arrest at the beach on New Year's Eve and litter around the seaside town, such as empty beer bottles, had been reduced dramatically.
The liquor ban ended at midday on New Year's Day but Mr Daly said police would continue to monitor the town for another four days.
In Napier the chilly conditions that saw in 2007 did nothing to dampen the celebrations at the city's Sound Shell on New Year's Eve but could be the reason police had a better than expected night.
Senior sergeant Dean Goodall said the occasional showers meant his team on the beat had experienced a quiet night. The few arrests that were made were for breaches of the peace, breaches of the liquor ban, disorderly behaviour, wilful damage and minor assaults.
A tagger was also caught in Taradale.
Revellers at the Jimmy Barnes and Diesel concert at East Pier in Napier were well behaved and didn't cause police any trouble.
Woman lucky to be alive
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