A man is lucky to be alive after an empty spirit bottle was thrown through his windscreen as he drove home from work.

The bottle is believed to have been thrown from a vehicle travelling in the opposite direction from the victim, says Hawke's Bay Police Constable Ben Dalton.

A car's windscreen was smashed when a Jim Beam bottle was thrown at it. Photos: NZ Police.

While the incident may not have happened in the Bay of Plenty, it is a timely reminder of the dangers of throwing objects from moving vehicles.

Hawke's Bay Police are describing the actions of whoever threw the bottle as 'reckless in the extreme.”

Constable Ben Dalton, who attended the incident, says the victim, a baker, was on his way to work at about 11pm when the bottle burst through his windscreen as he approached the Ngaruroro river bridge.

'The bottle came straight through the windscreen with such force that glass sprayed through the car. The bottle then struck the driver in the shoulder. Fortunately, he is uninjured but is understandably very shaken by what has happened.

'The person who threw this bottle could have killed or seriously injured the driver. We take this matter extremely seriously and it is concerning that someone could be this stupid. If located they will likely be facing serious charges.”

The bottle has been taken for forensic testing and police are investigating the incident.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the Hawke's Bay Police on 06 873 0500.

Alternatively, information can be left anonymously via the Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 line.