Crashed car stops metres from baby

A speeding out-of-control car smashed into a Bay of Plenty house over the weekend - stopping just a metre away from a 15-month-old sleeping baby.

The car tossed a chair across a room landing on top of Catarina Kingston's cot but she escaped unharmed, the Bay of Plenty Times reported.

Shocked parents Michael and Anna Kingston awoke at their Omokoroa, Tauranga, home about 2.30am on Saturday to the sound of screeching tyres and a loud bang.

They said they had to kick through a shattered door which was jammed to get their baby out.

Mr Kingston said the young driver tried to reverse the vehicle out of the house but he removed the keys and the driver fled on foot. Two passengers remained behind.

Police are investigating.

- NZPA