A WODONGA mother woke up to the idea she may have to cancel Christmas after a hoon driver damaged her family’s only mode of transport.
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Neighbours reported hearing burnouts about 2.30am Thursday but it wasn’t until the sun came up that the true extent of recklessness was revealed.
Tehnay Jones, a single mother-of-three, said a woman came to the house and woke her at 7.30am to let her know what had happened.
“The neighbour came and told me while the kids were still sleeping,” she said.
“When I saw the damage, I was just shocked.
“I ended up crying because I knew that it was going to wreck everything.
“My first thought was that I’d have to cancel Christmas.
“Either that or go without a car.”
It is believed the hoon had been doing burnouts around the corner of Hereford Street and Carkeek Street before losing control and crashing into Ms Jones’ parked car, causing extensive damage.
Ms Jones’ vehicle was battered along the right side and the back bumper was almost snapped in half.
Ms Jones has lived at the address for 18 months with her children John, 5, Flair, 4, and Jack, 1, and said erratic drivers were commonplace in the area.
“There are people doing burnouts around here constantly, I’ve seen them in broad daylight,” she said.
“I don’t let the kids go out the front at all unless I’m with them now.
“My car has already been broken into this year and I’ve had other troubles with it.
“It has cost me a fortune and looking at the damage it will cost another several hundred before it is fixed.
“We were already struggling with Christmas as it was. I had small things on lay-by for each child which I will now have to take the money off to pay for repairs.
“I just want to find out who did it so hopefully they can pay for what the damage they have done.
“It doesn’t just affect the car, it affects the family.”
Ms Jones uses the vehicle to drive her children to preschool and day care which are at opposite ends of Wodonga.
She said she doesn’t believe it would be safe to continue driving the car due to the level of damage.
Images of the damaged vehicle have been posted on Facebook in the hope witnesses may come forward.
Despite such a negative incident, Ms Jones said there had been some good to come of the situation.
“I have a friend who is looking for a back bumper for me,” she said.
“Another woman contacted me on Facebook and offered to help pay off a bit of the lay-by.”
Anyone with information should contact Wodonga police on (02) 6049 2600.