He saw the police checkpoint and fled.

Shortly afterwards he crashed into a Hamilton car yard, where rows of vehicles were parked, damaging five of them. But when breath-tested by police, he was under the legal breath alcohol limit of 250mcg.

Waikato Senior Sergeant Phil Ruddell said although the man was under, he will still appear in the Hamilton District Court today on a raft of charges.

Ruddell said police had a drink-drive checkpoint on Greenwood St about 10.45pm when the 34-year-old driver approached.

He fled when he saw police but after travelling for about 700m, he allegedly lost control at the intersection with Massey St and crashed into five vehicles parked at Keppler Auto Planet.

Debris and glass remain strewn throughout the premises this morning. The five damaged vehicles have been taken away.

Skid marks can also be seen veering onto the forecourt.

The police serious crash unit attended, but the man was not seriously injured, Ruddell said.

A 34-year-old fled a police checkpoint on Greenwood St, Hamilton, on Thursday night before crashing into five cars at Keppler Auto Planet. Photo / Belinda Feek