A 57-year old man miraculously walked away with only minor cuts and bruises from a crash over the weekend after he drove his van over a steep roadside embankment in Devonshire.

The unidentified man was driving east along North Shore Road on Saturday afternoon when the lost control of the vehicle.

He was taken to hospital for treatment shortly after and was subsequently arrested on suspicion of drunk driving and detained at Hamilton Police Station.

Witness Jahan Cadenio, who was eating lunch at home with his uncle and was first on the scene, said he heard an "incredibly loud bang" before looking out of his kitchen window to see the mangled wreckage only a few feet from his front yard.

"My uncle was at the window when the accident happened and he said the van flew about ten feet up in the air when it came over the embankment," he said.

"I rushed out to help the guy and had to remove a large gas canister resting on top of him. I was concerned about any sort of spinal injuries he may have got, but thankfully he managed to get out and stand up of his own accord. I'm amazed he wasn't killed."

A press statement released by Police last night read: "It appears the vehicle was travelling east along North Shore Road when the driver lost control, crossed over into the westbound lane and went over an embankment at speed. The Pembroke man was arrested on suspicion of impaired driving and is currently being detained."