The 19-year-old holder of a L-plate licence was seen by a highway patrol officer driving down Bowen Street, Narooma at 1.45am on Saturday.

After seeing the patrol car, the driver allegedly took off at high speed driving north on the Princes Highway.

The officer followed the car and attempted to stop the driver, who instead speeded up, crossed the Narooma bridge and turned onto Riverview Drive.

The driver then lost control just after Fisherman's Crescent spinning and ending up facing in the opposite direction, then speeding off again past the patrol car and back over the Narooma bridge.

The pursuit then entered Riverside Drive where the young driver lost control just past Taylor Brothers smashing through the railing before sliding part the way down the embankment.

Police say it was lucky the driver wasn't seriously injured and that the car didn't end up crashing into the lake or boat houses.

The highway patrol officer then caught up to the Narooma man who after a short foot pursuit was arrested and given a roadside breath test.

He failed and back at the station, he recorded a reading of 0.130.

He was charged with eight traffic related offences including driving in a manner dangerous and mid-range drink driving.

The Truss Plus flatbed removed the car yesterday morning as the large Narooma crane could not fit into the tight space.