A Waihopai Valley man was lucky to be alive after he rolled his van twice in a crash while drink-driving, a judge says.

Kelvin Gordon Burmaz, 42, of Waihopai Valley, admitted driving with a blood alcohol level of 265mg (legal limit is 100mg) when he appeared in Blenheim District Court yesterday.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Mark Lucas said Burmaz rolled his van twice after failing to take a bend in Old Renwick Rd on August 30.

A member of the public alerted police, who found Burmaz soon after.

He had crawled from the wreckage of his van, but his right leg was badly broken, Mr Lucas said.

Standing on crutches in the dock, Burmaz hung his head as Judge Paul Whitehead told him he was lucky to be alive.

His blood alcohol level was equivalent to a breath alcohol reading of 1325mcg, more than four times the legal breath alcohol limit, the judge said.

Mr Lucas said Burmaz had to have surgery to put a metal rod into his right lower leg and he was unable to work for many months.

He was also unable to claim insurance for his crashed vehicle because of the drink-driving, Mr Lucas said.

Burmaz had been polite and co-operative with police, but was unable to remember the crash, he said.

Defence lawyer John Holdaway said Burmaz had some drinks at work before the incident.

He accepted there would be further punishment on top of his broken leg and the loss of his car.

Judge Whitehead said Burmaz had an almost unblemished record and it was his first drink-driving conviction.

He was fined $1225 and disqualified from driving for nine months.

- The Marlborough Express