'Bit of a job' after car hits house

Home owner Graeme Pointon examines the damage. Photo / Rebecca Ryan, ODT

A Hampden house which has just been sold was significantly damaged when a car ploughed into it yesterday afternoon.

The southbound Nissan Mistral driven by a 78-year-old man crashed through a fence and hit the side of the house on State Highway 1 about 4pm.

Sergeant Peter Muldrew, of Oamaru, said the cause of the crash at the northern entrance to Hampden was yet to be determined.

''It appears he may have been sleepy and he's just drifted off the road.''

The driver and passenger both walked away unharmed.

Sgt Muldrew was last night speaking to two independent witnesses and said no decision had been made on what action would be taken.

House owner Graeme Pointon arrived home about an hour after the crash to find two walls ripped off and about six locals helping to patch up the walls and clean up.

While he was examining the damage to his home, friends and locals stopped to offer assistance and even a bed for the night, he said.

''That's the thing we've found about Hampden ... really neat people,'' he said.

Mr Pointon, who has lived in the house for three years, said the ''sold'' sign had just gone up yesterday. He was unsure how the crash would affect the sale.

There would be a ''bit of a job'' cleaning up, he said.