Rugby: Police await blood alcohol tests after Lauaki car crash

Chiefs number eight Sione Lauaki fell asleep at the wheel in the early hours of Saturday morning. Photo / Christine Cornege

Police are waiting for blood alcohol tests after Chiefs rugby loose forward Sione Lauaki walked away with minor injuries from a car crash early on Saturday.

Police spokesman Andrew McAlley said the 28 year-old was found "sitting in the driver's seat of the vehicle in a semi-conscious state".

Mr McAlley would not confirm that the driver was Lauaki but referred nzherald.co.nz to a release from the Waikato Rugby Union.

He said the driver complained of having a sore arm and was taken to Waikato Hospital by ambulance suffering from a suspected broken arm.

"An evidential blood test was taken at the hospital and sent to ESR in Wellington for analysis, it is expected to take several days before the results of those tests are known and this will determine what if any charges the driver may face," Mr McAlley said.

The Chiefs franchise said Lauaki fell asleep at the wheel south of Huntly while driving to Auckland. Alcohol was not a factor, the Chiefs said in a statement.

NZPA reported police and ambulance staff were called to the scene of the crash, which involved a sports utility vehicle that had left the road, about 4.20am, the morning after Lauaki played in the Chiefs' 25-25 draw with the Cheetahs in Hamilton.

Lauaki's arm is still swollen and will continue to be assessed by Chiefs medical staff.

The team's chief executive Gary Dawson said: "Understandably Sione is shaken by this accident and we are all thankful it was not more serious."

The Chiefs, out of semi finals contention, will face the Hurricanes in Wellington on Saturday.

Lauaki played the last of his 17 tests against Samoa in September 2008.

No stranger to off-field drama, Lauaki will be sentenced next month on a charge of common assault after he punched a man at a Hamilton bar on March 5.

- NZ HERALD STAFF & NZPA