'Are you the head of the snake?': Judge asked drugged driver who crashed into police officers

A woman high on meth sped through a police cordon, veering across the centre line and accelerating toward two officers who leapt clear to avoid being hit.

Seconds later she slammed head-on into a stationary patrol car, the impact hurling the constable and a civilian inside back nearly 10m before smashing a second officer to the ground with injuries so severe he fractured a vertebra and suffered a concussion.

The chaos didn’t end at the crash as a search of her vehicle uncovered a notebook linking Laura Boustead to more than 2kg of imported methamphetamine.

Boustead appeared for sentencing in the Whangārei District Court on charges including dangerous driving, importation of meth, possession for supply and possession of cannabis and utensils.

In January 2025, Boustead was driving on a Northland road when she came across police attending a car crash.

Road restrictions were in place and police directed Boustead to slow down but instead, she veered right across the centre line towards two police staff who had to leap clear.

Driving at about 70km/h, Boustead crashed head-on into a stationary police car.

The constable and a civilian inside the patrol car were shoved backwards nearly 10m before the vehicle stopped.

A second officer, standing behind the car, was struck by the force of the collision and thrown to the ground.

That officer received a fractured vertebra and concussion.

Another officer, who had just graduated and was on her fourth shift, required stitches to the knee and sustained a cut to her chin from teeth being pushed through her lip.

The civilian also received bruising.

When Boustead’s car was searched, several methamphetamine utensils were found with class B drugs, a bong and a gram of cannabis.

Boustead’s blood sample showed she was six times over the high‑risk meth threshold of 50 nanograms. Her result was 300 nanograms.

As part of that search, police found a notebook containing notations they became interested in.

They followed them up and discovered Boustead was on the receiving end of four packages of methamphetamine being imported from overseas.

Two were from Thailand and Pakistan and the other two could not be traced, totalling just over 2kg of methamphetamine.

“Head of the snake”

The Crown sought a starting point of 10 years and viewed her as having a significant role in the importation as she was receiving payments for completing tasks.

Police prosecutor Tiegan Hemmins sought a further two-and-a-half years for the driving charges.

“Lynn Fleming, the police officer, was killed three to four days prior to this incident at a time when police were already on edge,” Hemmins said.

“So we have another incident here of police officers being injured on the job when they’re just trying to execute their duty and keep the public safe.”

Laura Boustead was recently sentenced in Whangārei before Judge Greg Davis. Photo / NZME

Boustead’s lawyer Sumudu Thode argued her client played only a limited role with no evidence she influenced anyone above her.

Judge Greg Davis believed Boustead’s role in the meth importation appeared to be “in between” the source of the methamphetamine and the dealers.

“It’s described as a bit being like the snake or head of a snake. You’ve got the big boss at the top and you’ve got the street dealers at the bottom. They’re different roles, but the penalties are all the same. So are you the head of the snake or are you one of the dealers? Or are you somewhere in between?” Judge Davis questioned.

‘Jail all over’

Thode said the end sentence should be “nowhere near” the Crown’s suggested 10‑year mark, submitting the court had scope to impose an end sentence of two to two-and-a-half years ending possibly in home detention.

Judge Davis was not convinced.

“We’ve got Ms Boustead blasted with methamphetamine, driving dangerously, crashing and injuring a whole lot of people going about their work business, their general business, whilst she’s, for want of a better word, as high as a kite,” Judge Davis said.

“That is jail all over.

“But for the grace of God, we could have been dealing with a vehicle manslaughter here today.”

Judge Davis said the victims were left with lasting impacts, particularly the officer standing behind the vehicle.

“He’s had to undergo further psychological interventions for PTSD. He has trouble, for example, crossing a road without getting flashbacks.

“One of his joys was riding a motorbike, which he just hasn’t been able to do with any degree of regularity because of the pain that he continues to be in.”

Judge Davis pointed out the seriousness of the crash that impacted four victims who were at the scene of another vehicle incident conducting their duties.

“These officers aren’t strangers, faceless people, they’re husbands, wives, they’re fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, all of those things. They are human beings. And their lives have been significantly impacted.”

Judge Davis said a starting point of four years should be imposed for the importation charges and five years for the driving.

After reductions of 40% for guilty pleas and her background, Boustead was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment.

DRUG SAFETY

Where to get help:
• 0800 METH HELP (0800 6384 4357)
• Alcohol Drug Helpline (Phone 0800 787 797 or text 8681)
• They also have a Māori line on 0800 787 798 and a Pasifika line on 0800 787 799
• How to stay safer if you're using drugs: The Level
• Where to get your drugs checked: Drug checking clinics

Shannon Pitman is a Whangārei-based reporter for Open Justice covering courts in the Te Tai Tokerau region. She is of Ngāpuhi/Ngāti Pūkenga descent and has worked in digital media for the past five years. She joined NZME in 2023.