Police had to smash the window of a car at the Oamaru Cemetery to get to the ''grossly intoxicated'' driver, whose vehicle had crashed into a water pipe.
Sergeant Tony Woodbridge, of Oamaru, said it appeared the 70-year-old Oamaru man had been drinking at the Roxby St cemetery, before getting behind the wheel and crashing about 4pm on Tuesday.
When police arrived, the man was unconscious in the locked vehicle. Police believe he was grossly intoxicated.
It was likely he had been drinking for some time, possibly as long as two days, Sgt Woodbridge said.
''It looks like he has been up at the cemetery drinking and there was an open bottle of alcohol sitting in the vehicle,'' Sgt Woodbridge said.
The man was not injured, but was taken to Oamaru Hospital. Police were yesterday awaiting results of a blood-alcohol analysis before deciding on charges.
The car and water pipe had only minor damage.
