Real estate agent Paul Joblin got up from his desk and went to talk to another agent in the office.
Thirty seconds later, a car ploughed through the wall and smashed into the desk, destroying it.
Yesterday, the Masterton man was reflecting on his narrow escape from serious injury or even death.
"I was down the front and then went into the urban office when there was a big bang," said Mr Joblin, who is Wairarapa manager for Property Brokers.
In his office, notes were scattered across the bonnet of the car, which came to a stop among pieces of wall and the remains of Mr Joblin's desk and chair.
Witnesses say an elderly man drove up to a neighbouring Chapel St service station, then travelled at speed across the forecourt, smashing through the office wall.
"We are a bit lucky, and it was just lucky the old fella wasn't hurt," Mr Joblin said.
He had taken a load of wrecked office equipment to the dump, and the damage was nothing a builder couldn't fix.
"I'll have to get a new desk," he said.
Sergeant Mike McRandle, of Masterton police, said the elderly driver had been spoken to, and police were considering what further action to take.
