A 29-year-old woman who crashed into the railing of the bridge in Vaimaanga last year was convicted at the High Court in Avarua yesterday and ordered to pay $28,000 in reparations.

In September last year, Tangata Maru was involved in a single car crash damaging the railing of the bridge. She was breathalysed and found to be over the legal alcohol limit.

Justice of the Peace Nadine Newnham presided over the case and ordered the reparation cost as well as a 12-month disqualification of her driver’s licence.

Maru was also placed on probation for 18 months and ordered not to leave the country until the probation period is completed.

The defendant pleaded guilty through her defence counsel, Michelle Tangimama Pera-Robati on November 28 last year, and was sentenced yesterday.

The incident took place in the early hours of Friday, September 13, 2024, involving a car that crashed into the railing of the bridge near the Old Sheraton in Vaimaanga.

The driver (Maru) called the Cook Islands Police to report the incident at 4.28am.

Cook Islands Police at the time said that the 29-year-old driver was remanded in custody after she was breathalysed.

“She was screen tested at the scene and found to be over the legal limit for alcohol. After being returned to police HQ and breathalysed (EBA), the driver was arrested.”

The defendant sustained minor scratches from the crash.