23 Jun 2018

Drunk driver crashes into Cook Islands parliament, takes out wall

5:59 pm on 23 June 2018
A view of the crash scene from the members' lounge of the Cook Islands parliament.

A view of the crash scene from the members' lounge of the Cook Islands parliament. Photo: RNZ / Florence Syme-Buchanan

A 21-year-old has been arrested on Rarotonga for crashing his car into the Cook Islands parliament in the early hours of this morning.

The new-look Cook Islands parliament. The western wall was destroyed overnight when a drunken driver crashed into it.

The new-look Cook Islands parliament. The western wall was destroyed overnight when a drunken driver crashed into it. Photo: RNZ / Florence Syme-Buchanan

The driver wasn't injured and managed to walk away from the crash that destroyed an entire wall on the parliament's western side.

The nose of the car plunged into the members' dining area.

A police spokesperson, Trevor Pitt, said the incident was alcohol related.

This is the second time a car has crashed into the country's parliament.

A car is removed from the western wall of the Cook Islands parliament.

A car is removed from the western wall of the Cook Islands parliament. Photo: RNZ / Jamie Tahana