The driver was a Merimbula girl aged 15, who later gave a breath alcohol reading of 0.025.

While she awaits a date to appear in the Bega Children’s Court her friends are recovering from injuries ranging from a broken vertebra to bruised ribs.

Police say the accident occurred near the Nethercote Falls at 8.45pm on Saturday night.

When Police arrived at 9.15pm, they found the Toyota Corolla had left the road and hit a tree.

While the three passengers were taken by ambulance to Bega Hospital, the driver declined assistance and was taken to Merimbula Police Station for blood analysis and questioning.

The most seriously injured passenger was a Merimbula girl, also 15, who bore the brunt of the impact in the rear passenger seat.

She was airlifted to Sydney’s Westmead Hospital from Bega where she is being treated for a broken vertebra.

A Bega male, age 17, who was in the rear driver's seat suffered fractured and bruised ribs and seatbelt burn to the shoulder.

A Tathra female, age 18, in the front passenger seat suffered injuries to her nose.

It is believed the group had been camping at the nearby Nethercote Falls and it is unknown what prompted them to drive.

Eden sergeant Scott Blanch said the accident could have been a fatal one.

“Young people need to be aware that motor cars aren’t toys especially if alcohol is involved,” he said.

“If you make the wrong decision it can have lifelong consequences, it only takes one error of judgement to change the way your whole life pans out.”