POLICE are awaiting the results of a blood sample taken from a driver who allegedly crashed into a Shoal Bay unit complex, causing structural damage.
Port Stephens-Hunter Police District began investigating on Saturday evening after the 5pm collision.
Reports to police indicated a Toyota Hilux had been driven along Shoal Bay Road before it collided with the exterior wall of a unit complex.
Residents heard the crash and went to investigate.
It alleged they saw the Hilux's driver reverse into a load-bearing wall of the complex, causing the wall to partially collapse.
"Residents of the unit complex managed to self-evacuate without injury or incident," NSW Police said in a statement.
The vehicle drove off down Shoal Bay Road.
Police were later called to Mistral Close at Nelson Bay after reports the same vehicle crashed into a timber fence.
They arrived to find a 19-year-old man in the car's driver's seat.
He was breath tested, allegedly returning a positive reading.
The man was arrested and taken to Nelson Bay police station for a breath analysis but instead ended up in Tomaree Hospital with non life threatening injuries.
"While in the police station, the man suffered a medical episode, which required treatment by ambulance officers," police said.
"As part of the investigation, officers will await the results of a blood sample before taking any formal action against the man."
A Fire and Rescue NSW assessment of the unit damage found a structural engineer will be needed to examine it more closely.
Inquiries into the crash are ongoing.
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