A visitor to Rarotonga was convicted of excess blood alcohol and careless driving after a car accident, resulting in a $28,000 reparation.

Gloria Kahupukoro, who crashed into the pick-up truck belonging to Beauman Morgan in Titikaveka on July 19, has been ordered to pay reparations of around $14,000 each to the rental car company and the private car owner.

Kahupukoro and the private car owner, Morgan, appeared before Justice of the Peace Vania Kenning at the High Court in Avarua yesterday on charges of excess blood alcohol (EBA).

Kahupukoro faced additional charge of careless driving.

Police prosecutor senior sergeant Tuaine Manavaroa said Kahupukoro, a visitor to Rarotonga, on July 19 drove a Toyota Yaris rental car out of a private property heading to the main road.

At the same time, Morgan was driving from near the direction the car was to turn out. 

Senior sergeant Manavaroa said the defendant assumed that there was no traffic on the road, and collided into Morgan’s vehicle.

He said both vehicles received damages as a result of the impact and both drivers sustained injuries.

Senior sergeant Manavaroa said a blood test was done which returned a result of 187.6 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, exceeding the prescribed limit of 50 milligrams.

He said on July 22, Kahupukoro gave a statement and said she was drinking vodka prior to the incident and that she did not see a vehicle before driving onto the road. 

JP Kenning sentenced Kahupukoro to a 12-month disqualification from driving or applying for a Cook Islands driver’s licence. She also ordered the defendant to pay a fine of $400, $150 for the blood analysis report, and $50 in court costs. Additionally, a reparation of $14,000 was ordered to be paid to both the rental car company and Morgan.

Her passport was to be released yesterday upon payment of the reparations and fine allowing her to travel out of Rarotonga.

Meanwhile, Morgan, the pickup truck driver, returned a blood alcohol result of 103 milligrams.

He was also convicted and ordered to pay $200 fine, $50 court cost and $150 for blood analysis report.

The defendant was further disqualified from driving or applying for a Cook Islands driver’s licence for 12 months.

Morgan asked if he could pay a higher fine instead of being disqualified from driving.

Senior sergeant Manavaroa told the court there were two cases before the court in the past where defendants requested the same but it was denied.

Senior sergeant Manavaroa said the defendant can apply for partial licence after six months.