A man who took out a power pole in a crash on Heads Rd was drink-driving at the time.
Darren Albert was driving on January 7 when he took a "moderate S-bend at excessive speed", crossed the centre line, spun 180 degrees, and hit a power pole, police prosecutor Sergeant Rachel Willemsen said on Tuesday.
Albert, who was not wearing a seat belt and was in breach of his learner licence, sheared the pole off at ground level.
Ms Willemsen told the Whanganui District Court that Albert was taken to hospital with leg injuries, and a blood sample was taken.
Albert had 121mg of alcohol in his blood. The legal limit is 50mg.