Drunk driver takes taxi back to car then crashes it into ditch

Two tree stumps prevented this car from overturning into a water race. Police say the driver could have drowned. Photo / Supplied

A young motorist caught for drink driving and immediately suspended for 28 days, later got a taxi to get back to his car and ended up crashing it.

Police say the 20-year-old is lucky to be alive after his car nearly flipped in a water race sometime between 3am and 5am on Sunday.

Just after midnight he had been stopped by police leaving a hotel car park in Lincoln. He was taken to the Rolleston police station for processing.

Constable Blair Croucher said due to the high alcohol reading his licence was automatically suspended for 28 days. The driver was then taken to his Rolleston home by police.

But he later got a taxi back to the hotel car park in Lincoln where he retrieved his car and drove off, crashing later in a water race on Trices Rd, Prebbleton.

Said Croucher: "The only thing that stopped his car going into the water and turning upside down was two tree stumps on the bank. If those two tree stumps weren't there and his vehicle overturned, we would have been looking at a fatality."

The car in the water race. Photo / Supplied

He had lost control on Trices Rd after going onto a grass verge. He then clipped a power pole and ended up in the water race.

The vehicle sustained extensive damage. The air bags were deployed and the 20-year-old received minor bruising from his seat belt. He was able to get out of the vehicle and phone a friend to come and pick him up.

Croucher was made aware of the crash about 7am, after a passing motorist contacted police. The 20-year-old's parents arrived while Croucher was there.

Later, Croucher went to the driver's workplace where he passed a breath test. He then explained what had happened.

"He was expecting me to turn up, and he was very helpful and very co-operative. Once I spoke to him, his judgement wasn't clouded (by alcohol) anymore," Croucher said.

- starnews.co.nz