KEY POINTS:
A man ignored pleas not to get behind the wheel after drinking, insisting he was fine to drive - a decision that cost his 16-year-old girlfriend her life.
Nicholas Pukeroa hit speeds of 160km/h as he headed to Whangarei from Ocean Beach on October 28.
Pukeroa, of Whangarei,
lost control of the car on Ocean Beach Rd, near Urquharts Bay, and crashed into a bank.
Shyloh Malcolm, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was thrown through the windscreen and died at the scene.
Pukeroa, 20, pleaded guilty in the Whangarei District Court to a charge of dangerous driving causing Ms Malcolm's death and driving with excess blood alcohol.
The police summary said Ms Malcolm and Pukeroa were at Ocean Beach about 2.30pm on October 28.
They were drinking alcohol when they were joined by Pukeroa's brother, his girlfriend and a female friend of Ms Malcolm's.
All three girls went for a swim while Pukeroa and his brother stayed in the carpark.
When the girls returned about 30 minutes later, Ms Malcolm's friend told Pukeroa's brother he should drive, because Pukeroa had been drinking and appeared to be drunk.
The summary said Pukeroa and his brother talked about who should drive but Pukeroa insisted he was fine.
While the two were talking, Ms Malcolm had been driving the car in the carpark and got it stuck in a drain on the side of the road.
Ms Malcolm's friend again protested at the prospect of Pukeroa driving and Pukeroa was told by his brother he shouldn't get behind the wheel, the summary said. Pukeroa ignored the advice and drove off.
Witnesses told police that Pukeroa was driving as if he were in a race. "Speeds have been estimated at being in the range of between 110km/h and 160km/h," the police summary said.
As he approached Urquharts Bay, Pukeroa lost control of the car. He crossed the centre line and crashed into a bank on the opposite side of the road.
Ms Malcolm was thrown 10 metres through the windscreen.
Pukeroa later refused to give a statement to police.
He recorded a blood alcohol level of 97 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 80mg.
Judge Duncan Harvey remanded Pukeroa on bail until sentencing on September 12.
- Northern Advocate
