A 17-year-old driver was lucky to walk away with just a bump to the head after his car plunged 5m over a bank, rolled and almost ended up in Whangarei Harbour.
The car landed upright on the rocks at Parua Bay on the Whangarei Harbour. Its roof was caved in but the sole occupant freed himself and met police as they arrived about 8am yesterday.
It appeared the vehicle had rounded the left-hand corner at the Parua Bay Tavern and about 50m along hit the kerb, rolled down the bank and landed just metres from the incoming tide.
Whangarei police Constable Brendan Walker said the driver was lucky not to be seriously injured.