A driver and two passengers are lucky to be alive after being thrown from their car in a horrific high-speed accident.

And Police have issued fresh warnings about the perils of drinking and driving following last night?s smash in Spanish Point, which resulted in the car flipping over on to its roof and its three occupants thrown onto the road.

The driver of the vehicle was subsequently arrested on suspicion of driving while impaired.

The accident occurred around 5 p.m. in Spanish Point Road, Pembroke, about 300 metres from the entrance of Admiralty House.

Last night Police spokesman Dwayne Caines said it appeared the driver was travelling in a westerly direction when he lost control of the vehicle.

Two of the three people in the car were taken to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, but the injuries did not appear to be life threatening. The road was closed to traffic for nearly two hours.

?This underscores a very particular message. During the holiday season Police are asking for individuals to be safe on the road and that if they must drink, do not drive,? Mr. Caines said.

The Fire Department?s Lt. Ronnie Aguiar, who attended the crash site, said: ?When the Fire Department arrived at the scene, the people inside were out of their vehicle and lying in the road.

?They were talking and everything. A female possibly had a fracture of right arm, and had cuts on her face. The other lady was shook up a lot, but had no injuries.

?We gave them medical treatment. They did not have to be extricated. We secured the vehicle for fuel and battery leaks?

A male occupant was also treated for cuts on his face. One witness who heard the crash said she believed the vehicle was speeding.

She said cars were constantly speeding past her home, so when she heard the car she did not get up to check it out.

?We can always hear cars speeding past the house,? she said.

?That was why I wanted to have speed bumps put down on this road. This is not the first accident around here.?

On Wednesday the Road Safety Council, the Police and the National Drug Commission urged the public not to drink and drive at all, especially over the Christmas period.

?The Police will be stepping up patrols over the next couple of days to address the inevitable likelihood of drinking and driving,? Insp. Chris Spencer said.

?Unfortunately, drinking and driving is a part of our heritage and pastimes and will be on the increase at this time of year. Be warned.

?In the past, some have heeded this warning, so I will warn you again. If you want to spend Christmas in a cell, I won?t discourage you, but be advised. we will be taking this very seriously this year. We know through the statistics that serious injury collisions are either speed or drunk-driving related. Some are both. It is in the Police?s interests to ensure everyone is safe and avoids injuring themselves or others.?

Road Safety officer Roxanne Christopher said there had been seven arrests for drunk driving last weekend. ?This is extremely high, but it gives an inkling of how many are consuming alcohol this holiday.?