A Clive man almost three times the legal drink driving limit miraculously escaped unscathed after he lost control of his car and crashed down a Hawke's Bay bank.
Michael Charles Lomas, 61, appeared in the Hastings District Court before Judge Geoff Rea on a drink driving charge on Tuesday.
About 10.30pm on November 28, 2018, Lomas was driving his car on Mill Rd heading towards Clive.
He was driving on a damp road through drizzly weather when he crossed over Black Bridge and attempted to drive around a slight bend in the road.
According to the summary of facts he lost control of his car, smashed through a fence, uprooted small pine trees, plunged through an electric fence, before careering down a 7m bank.