Rotorua family 'basically homeless' after car crashes into their house bus

Phil Wilson, pictured with 3-year-old daughter Bridget, is rethinking his holiday plans after his house bus was damaged after a car crashed into it. Photo / Stephen Parker

A Rotorua family have had to rethink their holiday plans after a driver who allegedly failed to stop for police crashed into their parked house bus.

Phil Wilson and Carey Young run motels in Rotorua, but decided to take the summer off to drive around the North Island with their twin daughters, who are nearly 4, after working for three-and-a-half years.

"We've got the house rented out and decided to have a bit of a break from life," Wilson said.

But at 12.30am today , their plans were disrupted when a motorist in a car that had allegedly been stolen crashed into the bus on Fenton St.

Wilson said the family was sleeping in one of their motel rooms but he had nearly slept in the bus that night.

"I was going to be sleeping in the bus but I chose to sleep in the motel that night which was quite lucky. The good news is my kids weren't on it when it happened."

Wilson said panelbeaters and mechanics he had contacted were on holiday until January, meaning the family's holiday plans had been disrupted and their home rendered unsuitable.

"We're basically homeless from Thursday, we were having to move into the bus on Thursday till January 5 as we have rented the house out," Wilson said.

Phil Wilson and his daughter Bridget,3, in the smashed house bus. Photo/Stephen Parker

But Wilson said he was not going to get grumpy and annoyed about it.

"We will work something out, the trip was all about having an adventure this summer, so this is just going to add to that adventure."

A police spokesperson said a driver was signalled to stop for a breath alcohol test shortly after 11pm on Monday.

The driver allegedly failed to stop and crashed a short time later into the stationary bus.

Police said two passengers from the car suffered minor injuries and were taken to hospital.

A 23-year-old Rotorua man has been charged with failing to stop, dangerous driving and driving while his licence was suspended. He was scheduled to appear in Rotorua District Court today.