The car became lodged in the crates after fleeing police. Photo / Ian Cooper
The car became lodged in the crates after fleeing police. Photo / Ian Cooper
A 27-year-old Napier man is alleged to have had more than three times the legal blood alcohol limit in his system when his car lodged in orchard crates between five and 10 metres off the ground.
The Tamatea man will appear in Hastings District Court on Wednesday on charges ofdriving with excess blood alcohol, reckless driving and failing to stop.
Court charging documents show police will allege the man had 168 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood in his system, well over the legal limit of 50 milligrams.
The car flew into the crates on Kenilworth Rd, Mayfair, about 12.30am on April 4, after hitting a patch of gravel at the base of the railway lines and becoming "airborne", police said.
Police said the vehicle had failed to stop for police after it was spotted driving at speed on the wrong side of Karamu Rd, Hastings.
Before being removed by crane, the wedged car became an unlikely tourist attraction, with hundreds going out of their way on the no-exit street to see it.