A Tauranga mother is facing drink driving charges after a three car crash on Totara Street overnight.

Police were called to the crash about 8.43pm to find a car which had crashed into two stationary vehicles, stopped at the railway crossing waiting for a train to pass.

One of the vehicles involved in last night's crash remains on Totara Street this morning. Photo: Bruce Barnard.

Western Bay of Plenty road policing manager Senior Sergeant Ian Campion says the offending vehicle failed to stop in time, striking the second vehicle and causing a three car nose-to tail-crash.

He says the 39-year-old female driver produced a breath alcohol limit of more than 950 micrograms at the scene. The legal adult limit is 400 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath.

A male occupant was also in the third car but left the scene before police arrived, says Ian.

'Worse was the woman's eight-year-old daughter was also in the car and sustained whiplash as a result of the crash.”

Ian says the crash could have resulted in serious injury or worse and it is 'just beggar's belief why a mature person would make the decision to drive while they are this intoxicated”.

'It's just unacceptable. She not only puts herself at risk, but puts her passenger, eight-year-old daughter and all of our families, friends and other road users at significant risk.”

Ian says Child, Youth and Family have been advised.

'It is incidents like this that remind us of the need to make good decisions and simply getting behind the wheel when you are this intoxicated is simply a disaster waiting to happen.

'I just need to remind everyone out there to make travel arrangements prior to drinking and to simply use the rule; if you've had a few drinks do not drive. It's that simple, irrespective of the circumstances.”

Police are yet to determine what charges will be laid against the woman, but Ian says she will be charged and is likely to appear in Tauranga District Court next week.