A mother faces a reckless driving charge after her two young children were thrown from the bonnet of a moving car when it crashed in a park.
Police say the children are "extremely lucky not to be seriously injured, or worse'' following the incident in Tauranga.
Western Bay of Plenty road policing manager Senior Sergeant Ian Campion said police were called to Kulim Park about 3.10pm on Saturday for a car crashed into a park bench and two children who had been thrown from the bonnet.
Witnesses told police the woman drove her car into Kulim Park, stopped on entering and her two children jumped out.
Mr Campion said a girl who looked about 8 years old climbed onto the bonnet and helped her younger brother, aged about 5, up.
The woman reportedly drove the car across the park about 30kmh, crashing into an unoccupied park bench. The two children were thrown 3 to 4m from the bonnet.
Mr Campion said fortunately the children, although distressed, were not injured.
"Personally I'm appalled at that kind of behaviour,'' he said.
"It's a recipe for disaster. The children were extremely lucky not to be seriously injured, or worse.''
The matter has been referred to Child Youth and Family for their consideration.
The woman will appear in the Tauranga District Court on May 23, charged with reckless driving.
