Two women seriously injured on roads

Two women were flown to Whangarei Hospital by rescue helicopter after separate incidents over the weekend, the first a single-vehicle crash late on Saturday night, the other a woman who was run over in Kaitaia a little after 3am on Sunday.

The 19-year-old Taipa man who police have identified as the driver of a car that crashed off Honeymoon Valley Road, Peria, shortly before midnight on Saturday initially claimed that he had been robbed of the vehicle at gunpoint. Another motorist subsequently saw the car, which a police spokesman said had clearly rolled several times, in a paddock some 70 metres from the road with a seriously-injured 18-year-old Cooper's Beach woman still inside it.

The police believe there may have been a third occupant.

The alleged driver, who recorded 678 micrograms per litre of breath, has been charged with driving with excess alcohol, careless driving causing injury and making a false statement.

A little over three hours later a 44-year-old Kaitaia woman, described by police as very drunk, was run over by a vehicle as she reportedly lay on North Road Kaitaia, just north of the Pak'nSave roundabout. She was transported to Kaitaia Hospital by ambulance for assessment of what were described as serious injuries before being flown to Whangarei.

The Serious Crash Unit from Whangarei is investigating both incidents, Kaitaia's senior police officer, Senior Sergeant Geoff Ryan, saying it had not yet been determined where fault lay in regarding what happened in North Road.

Drunk pedestrians on any road were always placing themselves in significant danger, he added, and all such incidents were given the highest priority by police.

His staff had dealt with one such incident early on Sunday afternoon, when a 43-year-old woman, described as highly intoxicated, was found walking along the Awanui Straight. Police delivered her to her daughter.

"It goes without saying that people who are affected by alcohol should keep well clear of roads, especially busy ones and especially at night," Senior Sergeant Ryan added.

"There is always a very high risk of serious injury or death, particularly at night when motorists can have real difficulty seeing them."