A woman was left lying unconscious in an upturned car for about nine hours after her friend crashed it, left the scene and headed to a bar before allegedly returning to steal her handbag, police say.
Senior Sergeant Mel Aitken, of Dunedin, said the man and woman, who were friends, were driving along Riccarton Rd, East Taieri, about 9.30pm on Friday in a four-wheel-drive vehicle.
The man lost control of the vehicle on a gravel corner and crashed.
The vehicle came to rest on its side in a ditch, Snr Sgt Aitken said.
The man managed to get out of the vehicle and left the crash scene, leaving his injured, and unconscious friend in the passenger seat, she said.
Police allege the man returned to the scene in a taxi and took the woman's handbag, and the $500 cash it contained, but did not offer any assistance to the woman.
She regained consciousness about 6.30am on Saturday.
She managed to get to her home before calling police.
She had moderate injuries, including cuts to her head, and neck injuries, Snr Sgt Aitken said. She said the man was found by police in a "heavily intoxicated state" in a bar on Saturday morning and will face numerous charges.
He was also found to be in breach of bail conditions.
