A Queenstown recidivist drink-driver was three times the blood-alcohol limit when his car mounted a kerb and seriously injured a Japanese woman.
Mutsuko Morisue (42) suffered a traumatic brain injury, complex facial fractures, an injury to her left eye, and serious bruising to her lower body.
She remains in the rehabilitation ward at Wakari Hospital, Dunedin, following the March 3 accident.
Ms Morisue has post-traumatic amnesia and although progressing, the long-term outcome, particularly whether she will suffer permanent disability, remained uncertain.
British builder Nicholas Edward Catlin (33), who has two previous convictions for drink-driving in the UK, fled the scene.
In the Queenstown District Court yesterday, he admitted drink-driving causing injury and failing to stop to ascertain injury.
He was convicted and remanded on bail for sentence in June.
Judge Mark Callaghan said Catlin ''epitomised the attitude'' he had found in Queenstown where people drank in bars, got in their cars and drove home.
He expected more than a dozen drink-drivers to appear in yesterday's court session.
Prosecuting Sergeant Ian Collin said Catlin had been drinking with friends in a bar in town that night.
He drank up to eight bottles of beer at home before going out.
Then, about 10pm, he left the bar and got into his Subaru Impreza and drove up Stanley St.
''He was observed by members of the public to be speeding and swerving whilst travelling up the hill,'' Sgt Collin said.
''As [he] neared the crest which turns on to a sharp left-hand bend ... he was unable to remain within his lane and started braking heavily.''
A police serious crash investigator calculated he was travelling at 74kmh in the 50kmh zone.
His vehicle careered across to the opposite side of the road and, sliding sideways, it mounted the footpath outside Copthorne Hotel.
Ms Morisue was standing on the footpath with her bicycle, talking to a friend.
''The defendant's car collided with the victim, striking her in the upper leg area, causing her to be thrown on to the bonnet. The victim, still wearing her helmet, and her bicycle were thrown 3-4m into the air, landing approximately 10m away on the road.''
Catlin continued driving for another 100m before stopping and getting out of his vehicle while smoking.
He staggered backwards, ran off through some bushes before getting a taxi to his home in the resort and going to bed.
Police arrested him at his home. He initially denied driving but admitted it once he was told someone was injured.
A blood test returned a reading of 151mg of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 50mg, although the criminal limit is 80mg.
Lawyer Liam Collins said Catlin was remorseful and had co-operated with police, disclosing his UK convictions.
Judge Callaghan remanded Catlin on bail for sentence on June 13. He ordered a pre-sentence report and that restorative justice be explored.
