Crimeline - car crashes through motel wall
The co-owner of a Melbourne Street motel got a rude awakening and is thankful to be alive after a guest’s rental vehicle smashed through the wall from the car park into his bed, landing precariously right beside his pillow.
Handa Oniel says he was asleep at 6.40am when he awoke to a large bang on his bed and “a weird smell”. “It was the coolant from the engine dropping next to my bed.”
Both Oniel, who lives in Auckland but was visiting Queenstown last week, and the 71-year-old Chinese man at the wheel were shaken but not injured.
Community Constable Amanda Shute says the Chinese driver appeared in the Queenstown District Court on Monday, 26 August, facing a charge of operating a vehicle carelessly. She says he allegedly accelerated instead of braking when driving out of the car park.
Oniel says he’s just grateful he and the guest were unharmed. “I’m glad he’s ok. Thank God. It was very, very close.”
He suspects the rental may have been an electric vehicle and the driver was possibly revving to check that the engine was running, but it must have been in ‘drive’ instead of ‘reverse’. “If he’d gone just a little bit faster, he could have injured me.”
The accident caused significant damage to the wall and adjacent window which caved in, as well as to the vehicle. Insurers were taking care of the damage.
A motel staff member says the escape was quite miraculous. “Angels were doing their job. That was a lucky escape.”
Crown Range junction crash
Police are still investigating after a two-car collision at the Crown Range intersection with the Queenstown to Cromwell state highway at 4pm on Wednesday, 21 August. Shute says a vehicle that was turning right allegedly failed to give way to a vehicle travelling towards Cromwell. Both drivers were local, and one was transported to Lakes District Hospital for further examination. Enquiries into the crash are ongoing.
Two youths have been arrested and charged in relation to a number of shoplifting offences at a local Queenstown store. Police are not releasing any further details and both young people have been referred to the Youth Court.
Drink driving
A 38-year-old local man stopped by Police just before 8pm for speeding on Gorge Road on Friday, 23 August, blew 809mcgs and had his driver’s licence suspended for 28 days. He’s been charged with driving with a breath alcohol level over 400mcg/l and will appear in the Queenstown District Court on 4 October.
Other matters:
North Island male, 41, 689mcgs, Lake Esplanade. Suspended for 28 days, driving with breath alcohol level over 400mcg. Appears Queenstown District Court - 6 September.
Local male, 34, stopped for speeding Ladies Mile, 537mcg, driving with breath alcohol level over 400mcg. Appears Queenstown District Court – 6 September.
