A 21-year-old man who crashed his car while overtaking on Dunedin's Three Mile Hill Rd early yesterday was among 10 motorists processed by Dunedin police for drink-driving at the weekend.
Sergeant Dave Scott said the crash occurred about 1am yesterday, as the car - with three people in it - overtook another vehicle while heading towards Mosgiel on a section of road marked by double yellow lines.
Immediately after completing the passing manoeuvre, the overtaking car attempted a sharp left turn into Dalziel Rd, but failed to negotiate the corner and slammed head-on into a rock wall Sgt Scott said.
It appeared neither of the men in the front of the vehicle were wearing seatbelts, but both escaped with minor injuries, he said.
A female in the back seat was wearing a seatbelt and was not injured.
It was a "ridiculous" example of driving, and the men were "lucky not to be more seriously injured", Sgt Scott said.
The driver was processed for drink-driving and allegedly recorded a breath-alcohol level of 493mcg, Constable Tim Coudret, of Mosgiel, confirmed.
Sgt Scott said police were kept busy dealing with nine other motorists caught driving while allegedly over the legal breath-alcohol limit of 400mcg between Friday night and yesterday.
Eight of those caught were males, and included a 28-year-old man stopped while driving on Andersons Bay Rd early yesterday morning who recorded a breath-alcohol level of 1004mcg, he said.
"I guess disappointing would be the word I would use to describe that ... these people are putting innocent road users at risk," Sgt Scott said.
All of those processed for drink-driving would appear in the Dunedin District Court, police said.
