Car smashes through fence after crash

WRONG PLACE: A car ends up in a front yard in Martinborough after a two-vehicle collision on Kitchener St. Right: The ruined fence after the accident.

A two-car collision in Martinborough sent a car crashing through a householder's fence and front lawn on Sunday.

The car stopped just short of a house at the Kitchener St and Princess St intersection, about 10am yesterday, leaving a utility vehicle in the intersection, spun completely around from the impact.

Both drivers were checked out by ambulance staff but were not seriously injured.

Homeowner Russell Swain said he had been around at a friend's house when he got a call that said: "Think you'd better come home."

He said the car had hit the bottom panel of his house but not significantly.

Crashes at the intersection have happened before, although this was the worst one.

"I've seen motorbikes, cars, not slowing down, not looking ahead," Mr Swain said.

The driver of one car, a 17-year-old from Wainuiomata on a restricted licence, said he had come over to Masterton to buy some mag wheels and was visiting relatives in Martinborough.

He admitted he had come "straight through" the Give Way sign on Princess St and had hit the utility.

He had bought the car exactly one year ago to the day, he said.

"What a mess."

Both cars had to be towed from the scene.