Mark Russell Gibb, 27, admitted in the Nelson District Court yesterday a charge of driving with excess blood alcohol and a charge of dangerous driving causing injury.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Wayne Johnston said Gibb was the driver of a car that crashed on the Boulder Bank on December 28.

He had two passengers in the car.

Gibb was driving down Boulder Bank Drive and reached speeds of over 150kmh.

He failed to turn right and hit a wooden barrier at the end of the road.

His car got airborne, rolled several times and ended up in the sea on its wheels. The front axle of the vehicle was severed in the crash.

Gibb and the two passengers were taken to Nelson Hospital with minor to moderate injuries.

Boulder Bank Dr provides vehicle access from State Highway 6 at Wakapuaka to a car parking area at the Boulder Bank.

A blood alcohol test showed Gibb had a reading of 183mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood. The legal limit is 80mg.

Gibb's lawyer John Sandston said Gibb was aware he would be disqualified from driving for some time, which would be hard for him. He studied full time and worked in a berry processing plant.

Gibb was well thought of in the community and this offending was out of character.

It had cost him over $20,000 as the car was written off and, due to his alcohol reading, he did not get any insurance.

It had also cost him to pay for some of the items in the car, including the two cellphones of the passengers.

Gibb had not spoken to police on legal advice, but had been frank with his insurance company.

- © Fairfax NZ News