A Queenstown builder and his mate were not wearing seatbelts when their ute veered off the road and plunged 25m down a bank in Kelvin Heights.
Passenger Troy Herewini - who was thrown 15m from the vehicle and suffered a traumatic brain injury, spinal fractures, and a broken rib and collarbone - is still off work.
The driver, Joshua Patrick Paul Newman (25), admitted a charge of drink-driving causing injury stemming from the March 25 crash.
The Otago Daily Times has obtained the documents from his sentencing in the Tauranga District Court on July 12. With a drink-driving conviction already to his name, Newman's blood-alcohol level was 152mg on the night - three times the legal limit.
He had been drinking with workmates in Frankton before picking up Mr Herewini, also a colleague, from a house on Queenstown Hill. They were heading west along Peninsula Rd about 12.45am when Newman lost control of the ute.
Having broken his arm in the crash, he climbed up the bank to flag down a passing car.
Mr Herewini was found by emergency services about 40 minutes later, and flown to Dunedin Hospital in a critical condition.
Newman told police he was ''incredibly remorseful'', and accepted full responsibility for the accident and any consequences that came from it.
Judge John Macdonald said the crash had a ''significant impact on the victim both physically and mentally''.
He told Newman his friend was still unable to work, and the consequences of the crash had affected his wife.
''You have a constant reminder of what you did, and I have the impression you are unlikely to repeat this type of conduct.''
Newman was sentenced to nine months' supervision and three months' community detention, with a daily curfew from 7pm to 5.30am, beginning on July 15.
He is disqualified from driving for a year, and must pay $2000 in reparation to Mr Herewini.
A Givealittle appeal raised more than $9500 for Mr Herewini and his wife.
