An intoxicated and "incoherent" Dunedin woman has admitted causing a car crash with a 1-year old in the back seat.
Sarah Blair Chirnside, 30, appeared in the Dunedin District Court yesterday and admitted charges of assault in a family relationship, refusing a blood specimen, careless driving, assault and assaulting police.
The court heard that on March 4, Chirnside, who was on a zero-alcohol licence, crashed into a parked car in John Wilson Ocean Dr.
The vehicle’s air bags were deployed and extensive damage was caused to the parked car.
Chirnside got out of the car, leaving a 1-year-old unattended in the back seat.
When located by police she was "incoherent and unable to stand" and admitted to using drugs and consuming alcohol before driving, a police summary said.
Before police were called, a man approached the crash scene and asked the woman if she needed any assistence.
He helped her make a phone call to her partner as she could not do so on her own due to her level of intoxication.
Soon after, the woman’s partner arrived as he lived nearby, and took the baby out of the car.
Chirnside followed him, screaming at him before she charged at him and scratched his face.
The first man called the police because of the defendant’s behaviour, but she attacked him, too, grabbing him by the collar and digging her nails into his chest.
She was restrained by a member of the public, but managed to kick the man in his thigh.
While at the hospital, she kicked another person after she attempted to leave while in police custody.
She was required to provide a blood specimen to determine what substances were in her system, but she refused.
Chirnside was remanded on bail until her sentencing date in November.
