Police 'astounded' drunk driver didn't crash

The 42-year-old mechanic was three times over the legal limit when he was stopped by police. Photo / File

A drunken driver who blew three times over the legal limit drove for two hours on a State Highway before being caught by police.

A 42-year-old mechanic from Mataura was pulled over by Dunedin police last night shortly after midnight, said Senior Sergeant Steve Aitken.

"He was driving on his way to Christchurch and got stopped by us, and blew blew 1340 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath."

The legal limit is 400 micrograms of alcohol, which meant this man was more than three times the legal limit, he said.

"It's a really really high level, and how the hell he drove from Mataura to Dunedin without killing himself or someone else is somewhat of a mystery."

The intoxicated man had been driving along State Highway 1 and was making his way to Christchurch, which was a 7 hour journey from his home town.

Mr Aitken said blowing such a high limit was unusual, and police would be lucky to record figures this high every three months.

"Someone that blows that level is really, really, really drunk... How he managed to not drive off the road astounds me."

The driver was charged with drunk driving, and Mr Aitken expected the offender would lose his licence.

- APNZ