A Southland man’s smart watch alerted police after he crashed in a paddock while more than four times over the legal limit.
When police arrived at the scene, the man was gone, but he had left his car in the paddock.
He was found later at his Dacre home "extremely" intoxicated with facial injuries and bloody clothing, a court heard.
Gregory Drew Titchmarsh, 32, was before the Gore District Court yesterday for careless driving and drink-driving last month.
The police summary said they were alerted to the crash in Dacre Morton Mains Rd in Southland about 1.40am on August 10.
Thirty minutes later they arrived at the scene and found the car sitting in an "extensively" damaged paddock.
It appeared the car had been travelling north when the driver seemingly lost control, the summary said.
The car then became airborne, clearing a ditch, crashing through a hedge and a fence before coming to a stop 15m into the field.
After Titchmarsh was located at his home, he was assessed by ambulance staff and taken to Southland Hospital.
Analysis of his blood showed a concentration of 233mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood — more than four times the legal limit.
The court heard the impact of the crash triggered Titchmarsh’s smart watch, which alerted 111.
"So, it’s like an automated 111," Judge Michelle Duggan said.
"That’s the impact that’s triggered that, I expect."
"Yup," the defendant replied.
Defence counsel John Fraser said the man was engaged to be married, had two children under the age of 5 and made a modest income working on a farm locally.
When discussing the fine, the judge heard the defendant sigh.
"I’m assuming that sigh is about losing an enormous sum of money. Were you sighing because you’re expecting a big fine?" Judge Duggan asked.
"No, because I’m an idiot," the defendant replied.
"That’s a good reason to sigh as well," the judge said.
For the "very drunk" driving, the judge fined him $1200 and disqualified him from driving for seven months.
For the careless driving he was ordered to pay court costs.
"This is your first conviction for drunk driving ... please make sure it is your last," Judge Duggan said.
