Teenager writes off cars

A dealer has been left with a bill of more than $70,000 after a BMW was driven onto his yard causing significant damage to six vehicles.

Bibin Francis, owner of Jez Motors in Hamilton, was informed of the incident by police at about 1.30am on October 9.

The driver of the BMW crashed into the premises on the corner of Willoughby and Mill streets around midnight.

The incident unfolded after police observed a vehicle speeding along Mill Street and signalled its driver to stop. They did not pursue the BMW. Two occupants suffering minor injuries were extracted from the vehicle after the crash.

Francis says when he had left the yard on the evening of October 8, all his cars were parked neatly in a row, but three had been crushed into a wall with parts scattered across the road.

A nearby light had also been bent over and he says it was lucky a fire hadn’t started with a transformer located only one metre away. Four of his cars will be written off, but two others are repairable. He expects the damage bill to come in at about $70,000.

The six cars damaged in the incident were a 2016 Nissan Note, 2015 Holden Cruise, 2010 Volkswagen Golf, 2005 Honda Accord, 2009 Toyota IQ and a 2010 Nissan Skyline.

A 19-year-old has been arrested for reckless driving and is due to appear in Hamilton District Court on October 13.

“I heard the guy doesn’t have car insurance, so it’s more costs on me,” Francis told Stuff. “There should be harsher rules and consequences for speeding because they will do this again and again, and next time someone could get hurt.”