$100k car wrecked after 'brain explosion'

William Streeten crashed his Lotus Elise - similar to the one pictured - near Norsewood. File photo / Supplied

A Hastings motorist has written off his $100,000 sports car after a "brain explosion" while fleeing police at 130km/h.

William James Streeten, 61, appeared in Hastings District Court after reaching speeds of 130km/h during a brief pursuit on SH2 in April.

The truck driver was heading north near Norsewood with his 27-year-old niece about 6.30pm, before an oncoming patrol car clocked him at 119km/h and activated its flashing lights.

As police slowed to turn around, Streeten accelerated his 2008 Lotus Elise sports car to speeds of up to 130km/h.

Court summaries show he then failed to take a left-hand turn while glancing in his rear view mirror at the chasing patrol car. He then drifted over the centre line and eventually lost control, narrowly missing the Blairgowrie Rd sign. The vehicle then hit a grass verge, causing it to flip onto its roof.

Both occupants had to be cut from the vehicle. Streeten's niece was taken to hospital with grazing and severe bruising to her head and body.

Streeten pleaded guilty to charges of failing to stop and careless driving causing injury.

Judge Alistair Garland told him he was lucky to avoid serious injury.

"Instead of stopping you put your foot down and took off ... you were fortunate you didn't hurt yourself and even more fortunate you didn't cause very serious injury to your niece," the judge said.

"This was a brain explosion and not the sort of thing you normally do. It's serious offending and the penalty I must impose has to reflect that."

He was fined $1000 and court costs of $132. Reparation to his niece of $400 was also ordered.

A disqualification period of six months was increased to nine months, after it was revealed a further three months' disqualification was mandatory for any driver who, after failing to stop, then drove in either a dangerous manner or exceeded the speed limit.

When questioned by Hawke's Bay Today, Streeten denied fleeing police.

"I was speeding because I'd just passed a few vehicles ... I wasn't sure whether the [police] lights were for me or not, which was why I was looking in my mirror," he said. "I could quite easily have out-run them in this car if I'd wanted to ... but I didn't."

He said he was dismayed at the sentence.

"I only pleaded guilty [failing to stop] because I'm heading to the UK and needed to get this out of the way.

"This is my first conviction in 45 years of driving ... there are teenagers out there getting much lighter sentences for drink-driving."