A Roxburgh man is counting himself lucky to be alive after hitting two horses while driving home from work.
Alex Haywood was driving on State Highway 8 near Shingle Creek late on Monday night when the accident happened.
He said the horses were "on the brim of the hill" and impossible to see as he approached.
He could remember driving around the corner, then waking up to a member of the public helping him.
"I am very, very lucky to be alive right now [at] all.
"I can’t believe anybody walked away from it — it just blows my mind."
The 27-year-old said he had lived in the area for more than 15 years and had driven the road "thousands of times".
He was travelling no more than 95kmh at the time of the crash.
"There’s nothing I could have done — it was pitch black."
Mr Haywood was admitted to Dunstan Hospital for a night with minor lacerations and a possible compression fracture in his upper spine.
He was now home and thankful for the support he had received from the community.
The owners of the horses had not yet been found and Mr Haywood said he was annoyed they had not reached out.
"I just want to try and find the owners of the horses ... it’s just annoying me that nobody had come forward or even asked if I’m OK."
"They’re not wild, that I know — they had horse shoes on.
"They’ve definitely got to be owned by somebody."
The crash was one of two involving animals in Central Otago over the holiday weekend.
Another driver was hurt when they hit a fallow deer on a rural road near Becks.
Acting Sergeant Graham Perkins said both crashes happened at night, giving the drivers little chance to react.
"We encourage farmers to check all fences before stock enter boundary paddocks, and take care with temporary road grazing fences.
"Ensure they are in good condition and conducting power well.
"At the same time, motorists have responsibilities as well.
"Motorists need to ensure their vehicles are up to warrant of fitness standard, particularly in terms of headlights.
"Having an animal run out in front of you is not a pleasant surprise.
"We urge every driver on a rural road to drive at a speed where they can safely react to whatever appears in their headlights.
"It might just save your life."
