'Where's the weed?', crash driver asks

A Waikato man who broke his hip when his car missed a turn and crashed into a couple's home frantically urged them to hide the cannabis stashed under his car seat.

Trapped in the wreck inside the Putaruru home, 65km southeast of Hamilton, Danny Emms asked "Where's the weed?", Hamilton District Court was told yesterday.

Emms, 48, was sentenced to four months' jail after pleading guilty to reckless operation of a vehicle, possessing cannabis and driving with an excess blood alcohol level, Fairfax Media reported.

He was indefinitely disqualified from driving and ordered to pay $400 reparation.

It was sheer luck no one else was injured when his car failed to take an easy right hand corner, crossed the curb, and ploughed into the house, the court was told.

Initially Emms claimed he had fallen asleep behind the wheel but a blood sample revealed an alcohol reading of 267 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 80mg.

Defence counsel Kay Hoult said exceptional circumstances led Emms to drink and drive, citing her client's break up with his partner of 20 years.

Emms had since the crash referred himself to a community drug and alcohol service.

- NZPA