Drink-drivers' trail of destruction in Queenstown

One the drink-drivers smashed through a garden wall and shrubbery before hitting a ute. Photo / Guy Williams

Two drink-drivers have left a trail of destruction in Queenstown overnight, damaging a total of seven vehicles as they attempted to drive home.

Sergeant Keith Newell, of Queenstown police, said the first incident occurred about 10.45pm last night when a 34-year-old resort man drove into a parked car on Park St, shunting it sideways and causing moderate damage.

He then drove into a second parked car, shunting it into a van and waking a sleeping occupant. He then crashed into a vehicle parked on Frankton Rd, causing extensive damage.

The man continued along Frankton Rd, prompting five calls to police from concerned members of the public.

Police found his extensively damaged vehicle outside a Frankton house. A breath-test gave a result of 937mcg.

He has been charged with dangerous driving, failing to stop to ascertain injury and drink-driving.

In the second incident, about 1.30am today, a 29-year-old Queenstown man crashed into a ute parked in the driveway of a Thompson St property.

Sgt Newell said the man failed to negotiate a right-hand bend, drove over the kerb and through shrubbery before hitting the ute.

Front and rear seat passengers in the alleged offender's car suffered minor injuries, and both vehicles were extensively damaged.

The man will appear in the Queenstown District Court next month on two charges of careless driving causing injury and one of drink-driving (469mcg).

Sgt Newell said the incidents arose from people making "bad choices".

"They need to think about how they're getting home. Call a taxi and get home safe."

The financial cost and disruption to the damaged vehicles' owners was "totally unnecessary", he said.