A woman who had been up all night drinking chose to go on a ''joyride'', speeding at up to 120kmh on a difficult part of the Kawarau Gorge, crossing the centre line and causing a crash that injured two people, the Alexandra District Court was told yesterday.
Judge Dominic Flatley said it was ''remarkable'' the female victim of the crash caused by Zhenya Whittington held no grudge against her.
Whittington (22), bartender of Cromwell, admitted two charges of causing injury while driving with a blood-alcohol level of 142mg near Cromwell on July 5.
She was sentenced to four months' home detention, ordered to pay $12,476 reparation to an insurance company, and $770 to one of the victims.
Judge Flatley said he had not ordered any emotional harm reparation, as the defendant could not pay a lump sum and it was unfair to the victim to have money ''drip-fed'' over time.
Whittington was also disqualified from driving for a year.
The crash victims must have been ''terrified'' by her actions and it was ''appalling offending'', he said.
The starting point for sentencing was a prison term.
Counsel Russell Checketts said Whittington was a first offender and was remorseful.
It was ''a moment's stupid decision-making'' and he was sure the defendant would never offend again.
She wanted to continue working so she could pay back the reparation as soon as possible.
Judge Flatley said the defendant had finished work at 2.30am and continued drinking with a friend until 9.30am when she took his vehicle for a ''joyride'' in the Kawarau Gorge, travelling at up to 120kmh.
She attempted to change from fourth to fifth gear and crossed the centre line.
A woman travelling in the opposite direction could not swerve one way because of the guard rail so swerved the other way.
The defendant swerved in the same direction, causing the two vehicles to collide head-on.
Whittington was ''well and truly intoxicated'', Judge Flatley said.
The other driver received five broken toes on one foot and her other foot was dislocated.
She also received bruising and cuts and was in a ''moon boot'' for six weeks.
The defendant's friend, a passenger in the car she was driving, also received injuries.
Judge Flatley rejected a suggestion Whittington's actions were a ''foolish mistake''.
She had chosen to get in the car after being up all night and drinking.
She had then been speeding on a ''difficult'' road - ''How is that a mistake?''
There was significant public interest in this type of offending and the defendant had placed everyone on the road that day at serious risk, he said.
