A driver suspected of drunk driving found himself seeing double this morning, double charges that is, after a crash on a major Hamilton thoroughfare closed a bridge over the Waikato River early this morning.
Shift Manager, Senior Sergeant Mike Underwood, said Police were called to the bridge on SH1, Cobham Dr, about 12.15am.
"A pole on the bridge had been hit and debris was across both lanes of SH1. No vehicle was there when Police arrived however a number plate and front light were, which we were able to follow up on."
In addition to knocking the light pole out of the ground the offending vehicle also damaged about 15m of wooden railings.
"Tracing the vehicle owner's address from the registration number a damaged Toyota van was located in an open garage but the owner wasn't home. That changed however when a man arrived in a Honda car, it appears the offender had driven his damaged van home and borrowed a flatmate's car to return to the scene and uplift the number plate we had recovered."
Mr Underwood said the driver was processed for excess breath alcohol and returned a result of 831mgms, over twice the legal alcohol limit and was charged with two counts of driving with excess breath alcohol.
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