Police track drunk-driver's number plate after crash

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Police tracked down a drunk-driver overnight after finding his number plate at the scene of a Hamilton crash.

Police were called to a crash on a bridge over the Waikato River on State Highway 1 about 12.15am and arrived to find debris spread across the road but no vehicle.

The crash also knocked a light pole out of the ground and damaged about 15m of wooden railings, closing the bridge.

Amongst the debris police found a number plate, Senior Sergeant Mike Underwood said.

Police tracked the owner's address from the plate and arrived to find a damaged Toyota in an open garage and the owner away from home, Mr Underwood said.

However, while police were still at the house the owner arrived in a Honda car and was processed for drink driving, recording a breath alcohol reading of 831 micrograms, over twice the legal limit of 400.

Mr Underwood said it appeared the man had driven his damaged van home and borrowed a flatmate's car to return to the scene and recover the number plate police had earlier picked up.

The man was charged with two counts of driving with excess breath alcohol.

- NZPA