Senior Sergeant Anthony Bond, of Dunedin, said the vehicle was travelling south when it crossed into the opposite lane of the Northern Motorway near Waitati Valley Rd at 6.30pm on Thursday.
The vehicle rolled and spun around to end up facing north along the motorway.
No other vehicles were involved.
When police arrived the man was processed for drink-driving and had a breath alcohol level of 844mcg.
Snr Sgt Bond said the occupant told police "he wasn’t the driver at the time".
Police were still investigating if another person was in the vehicle.
