A woman who lost her partner in the hands of a drunk driver put the life of her four -year -old at risk when she drunk and he fell off the car after opening the door while unfolding.
The boy survived, but suffered a fracture in the underlying skull, lacerations in his body and stayed in the hospital for a week.
The woman appeared at the Whangārei District Court on Friday, before Judge Taryn Bayley, on charges of excessive alcohol, causing injuries and an accusation of driving while disqualified.
Just a month before the accident, the woman was disqualified from driving by driving drunk.
Nine days after the imposition of this sentence, she was stopped and blew a breathing alcohol reading that found her right on the edge.
Then, on November 27, 2024, the woman chose to drink again, this time with another family member and three small children, without restrictions on the back seat of the car.
While drove to Old Onerahi RD in Whangārei, his 4 -year -old nephew opened the car door and fell.
In his sentence, defense attorney Victor Heather said his client’s partner died as a result of a drunk driver and she knew intimately the impact of her offense.
The woman went to court and acknowledged that she was abusing alcohol since her partner’s death.
“I was drunk for so long because I never had something to get me out of what the hell I was doing.
“I’m so sorry for what I did, I should know better. I stopped drinking, not to make stupid decisions,” she said in the dock.
“I see now. This drink had to stop.”
Judge Bayley told his wife that it was just for pure luck that the boy did not die.
“You shouldn’t be driving because a judge told you not to drive.
“Your nephew was entirely dependent on you to make sure he had a seat belt, he depended entirely on you to make your safety and the other children in that car your greatest priority and you disappointed it that day.”
Judge Bayley said she was grateful that the child recovered and warned the woman from what would happen if she came to the courts again.
“I simply hope you are a big alert, because if you drink and drive again, you will be in prison.
“It’s for you,” said Judge Bayley.
The woman was sentenced to six months of community detention and 12 months of intensive supervision.
– Shannon Pitman
