Crash trio ‘lucky’

Three men had a lucky escape after their car flew over a vehicle-prevention barrier, and rolled over Nelson’s Boulder Bank and into the sea.

Nelson police Sergeant Blair Hall said emergency services were called to Boulder Bank Dr, north of Nelson, at 1.30am yesterday.

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

Cars are prevented from being driven on the bank itself by the placement of 400mmdiameter telegraph poles.

Hall said the impact of the crash, in which speed and alcohol were likely factors, smashed a barrier pole in half and scattered others across the Boulder Bank.

He said the late-model V8 Holden Adventra left the gravel road and rolled several times before it came to rest in the sea on the other side of the Boulder Bank.

He said the car was destroyed, but the occupants, who included two Nelson men and a Tauranga man, were able to get themselves free and call for help.

They were taken to Nelson Hospital with a range of minor to moderate injuries, but were discharged yesterday morning, a hospital spokeswoman said.

‘‘Initial indications are that speed and alcohol were factors and it is disappointing that the message is still not getting through,’’ Hall said.

‘‘It is only luck that police are not having to advise a family of an unnecessary death.’’

He said the investigation was continuing and serious driving charges were likely.