Passenger flung out as car hits tree, flips

A Northland man whose passenger was seriously injured after they'd been at a sports function was more than twice the legal alcohol limit.

Construction worker Wi Scott PIRIHI, 52, appeared in Whangarei District Court for sentencing after pleading guilty to charges of excess blood alcohol causing injury and careless driving causing injury.

Pirihi went to the Takahiwai Rugby League Club to attend a prize-giving with Jacqueline White about 8pm on October 29.

After socialising and drinking, Pirihi left the club to drop off Ms White at her home about midnight.

About 1.5km from the club, Pirihi's Holden Calais crossed the centreline before running off the other side of the road, skidding and hitting a tree. The car then flipped, throwing Ms White from the vehicle, then landed on its roof.

Pirihi was found to have a blood alcohol level of 172 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, more than twice the legal limit of 80mg.

Ms White was left in a serious condition with a fractured lower leg and lacerations and came close to dying, spending a number of weeks in hospital recuperating.

Pirihi told police he wanted to take responsibility for the crash and plead guilty to the charges as early as possible. He was sentenced to four months' community detention, nine months' supervision and banned from driving for 12 months.

Northland has some of the highest rates of drink-driving in the country, particularly repeat offenders, and the Northern Advocate is publishing its "name and shame" list of all people convicted of drink-driving in the region.

Also sentenced in Northland's courts recently were:

Daniel James HAKARAIA, 36, 787 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath, 10 hours' community work, 12 months' supervision, disqualified from driving for 12 months for third drink-driving conviction.

Rhett Mark Alan PRYOR, 34, 520mcg, 90 hours' community work, disqualified from driving for seven months.

Katarina Queenie TUKAKI, 32, 615mcg, $600 fine, $132 court costs, disqualified from driving for six months.

Tara MANUEL, 18, 670mcg, 60 hours' community work, disqualified from driving for six months.

Darren Graeme SPRATT, 593mcg, $550 fine, $132 court costs, disqualified from driving for six months.

Jacob HETA, 33, 544mcg, six months' community work, disqualified from driving for six months.

Liquor limits: 20 and above: 400mcg of alcohol per litre of breath; 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood. Under 20: young drivers with a blood alcohol limit of between 0.00 and 0.03 will receive an infringement fee of $200 and 50 demerit points. Young drivers with a blood alcohol limit over that will be subject to the same drink drive penalties as adults.