Hit in Whangamata: 'I thought driver was kidding'

HIT BY CAR: Mary-Beth Wood, a 15-year-old from Otumoetai College, was one of two people taken to hospital after a car slid into a gathering at Whangamata.

Relevant offers

A Tauranga teenager whose leg was fractured when a car slid into a gathering in Whangamata says she thought the driver of the car involved was fooling around.

Mary-Beth Wood, a 15-year-old from Otumoetai College, was one of two people taken to Waikato Hospital after the incident. An 18-year-old man remains in a serious but stable condition.

Mary-Beth, who described the situation as surreal, said someone yelled "run" when the car got near but she only got 2m when the car clipped her left leg.

"When we saw he had lost control, we never thought he would come near us," she said, adding that she thought the driver was "kidding and showing off".

She was at a bach belonging to her boyfriend Hamish Tarr as part of a school group and were watching the weekend-long Beach Hop, an annual event that attracts large crowds and large numbers of car enthusiasts.

"We were just sitting on the driveway watching all the cars go by," Hamish, 17, said.

"We heard it and then we saw it was overtaking a car on the verge."

Mary-Beth's mother Donnamarie Wood was contacted soon after by a woman who was nearby that picked up Mary-Beth's mobile phone.

"That woman was just marvellous. Her daughter was with her and she is a nurse," Mrs Wood said.

"They were both comforting Mary-Beth and I'd just like to take this opportunity to thank them both."

Waikato Hospital spokeswoman Mary Anne Gill said Mary-Beth was likely to remain in Waikato Hospital for at least two weeks. She had four-hour surgery last night and was expected to have more surgery on the leg tomorrow.

Two others in the group were treated and discharged last night at Thames Hospital.

The car driver has been charged with driving-related offences.

- NZPA