The scene of the crash across the road from Masterton Primary School on South Rd, Solway. PHOTO/SUPPLIED
A driver who mounted the footpath outside Masterton Primary School before crashing into a parked vehicle may have been drunk behind the wheel, police say.
The crash occurred shortly after the school bell rang last Friday, just after the peak time for parents to collect their children for the long weekend, at about 3.20pm.
On Friday, Masterton fire station officer Mike Cornford said it was possible that the driver had suffered a medical event leading to the erratic driving and crash which led to three cars being extensively damaged.
However, Masterton police on Wednesday said it was possible the driver was drunk.
“There’s nothing in the notes about a suspected medical event,” Constable Joe Nelley said.
“In this case, the driver was suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol and blood tests were taken.”
The driver drove along the footpath on the wrong side of the road for about 20 to 30 metres and drove into another car at considerable speed, Cornford said.
He said it was fortunate no one was in the parked cars, and that most school kids had already been collected from outside the school.
A Wellington Free Ambulance spokesperson said the driver was assessed and taken to hospital.
Nelley said blood tests usually took weeks to produce a result and any charges would be held until they were returned.
